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OBJECTIVE: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) remains one of the most complex surgical procedures with high complication rates. Infectious complications, postoperative ileus and delayed gastric emptying in the perioperative period have a significant impact on the recovery from the treatment. Probiotics (PB) are known to have a beneficial effect as supportive therapy in major abdominal surgery but the evidence in pancreatic surgery is still limited. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of postoperative administration of PB on the early outcomes after PPPD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients undergoing pylorus-preserving PPPD were enrolled to prospective trial and randomized in two groups: A - control group (n=20) receiving standard nutrition and B - probiotic group (n=20) treated additionally with Lactobacillus rahmnosus GG (L. rhamnosus GG) in the postoperative period from the day of the surgery for 30 days. Gastrointestinal motility, infection complications, length of hospital stay, and mortality were compared in the perioperative period and during 2 follow-up (i.e., after 14 and 30 days). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in mortality and infectious complications between groups. The length of hospital stay was shorter in the probiotic group compared to control (10 days vs. 8, respectively). The positive effect of L. rhamnosus GG on gastrointestinal tract's motility was observed, including earlier recurrence of postoperative bowel movements (group B: after 3.75 days vs. group A: 2.15 days), passing gasses (group B after 4 days vs. group A 2.9 days) and the first postoperative stool (group B after 5.84 days vs. group A 3.85 days). L. rhamnosus GG improved the appetite in postoperative day 1, 3, 5, 7 and 30 days after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: L. rhamnosus GG improves the function of the gastrointestinal tract after major pancreatic surgery and may reduce the length of hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the foundry industry, as in many other fields we seek to achieve the best quality with the least losses and the lowest cost. To meet these demands numerous plants increased automatization of their manufacturing processes. However, with changes in the production process it is necessary to change also the materials used. Not only casting alloys that are used in production, but also applied moulding and core sands are important. Proper selection and evaluation of the properties of used moulding mixtures is crucial in order to achieve a highly efficient production. In this article a new issue concerning the use of flexibility in foundry molding and core was mentioned. It explains the principles of measurement and interpretation of the obtained results for the cold- -box moulding sands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is thermal and structural analysis of new two-component binders for foundry moulding sands. The previous research showed the possibility of using biodegradable materials as binders or parts of binders' compositions for foundry moulding and core sands. This paper is concentrated on estimating the influence of PCL on phenol-furfuryl resin thermal destruction (measured by derivatographic research) and its structure (measured by FTiR technology). The research proved that addition of new biodegradable additive PCL in the amount of 5-15% to the phenol-furfuryl resin doesn't change the resin thermal destruction course but it results in appearance of a new band in two-component binder structure. What's more there has been noticed a growth of intensity for band at wavenumber 1730 cm-1 (C = O) with the increasing addition of PCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly polymorphic DNA markers can be used to mark chimpanzees to individually identify these animals during legal controversies. Chimpanzees are currently being illegally deported from Africa to the US, Japan and Europe for scientific research purposes. Such genetic tests may control the capture and export of chimpanzees which were banned in 112 countries after a CITES meeting in Washington in 1973.