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Πέμπτη 15 Μαρτίου 2018

Scholar : Laryngomalacia - νέα αποτελέσματα

Tracheomalacia and tracheobronchomalacia in adults

A Majid

Tracheomalacia (TM) refers to diffuse or segmental tracheal weakness. There are two
distinct anatomical forms, the cartilaginous malacia characterized by soften.

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Scholar : ΠΑΡΕΣΗ BELL - νέα αποτελέσματα

16 ECoG-Based BCIs

A Gunduz, G Schalk - Brain–Computer Interfaces Handbook: Technological …, 2018

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Educational Assumptions

Publication date: Available online 14 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Richard B. Gunderman

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Viewing the Value of Radiology Through Patient Web Portals

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Geraldine J. Liao, Christoph I. Lee
With widespread adoption of web portals and unfettered patient access to online radiology reports, these previous end products are quickly becoming springboards for direct radiologist-patient interactions, further increasing the value proposition for radiologists in an era of patient-centered care. Here, we provide a real-world scenario demonstrating a teachable moment on how imaging examination reporting in the digital era is expanding the radiologist's role in patient consultation.

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Achievements of Japan neuroscience award winners

Publication date: April 2018
Source:Neuroscience Research, Volume 129
Author(s): Hiroyuki Kamiguchi

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Short communication: Effects of nanofiltration and evaporation on the gel properties of milk protein concentrates with different preheat treatments

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Hong Wang, Yunna Wang, Jialu Cao, Dongdong Yuan, Liankun Chen, Jie Han, Yan Li, Liebing Zhang
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different concentration methods (nanofiltration and evaporation) and heat treatments on the gel properties of milk protein concentrate (MPC). The MPC gels were produced using glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) as an acidifier with different preheat treatments (30 min at 80°C and 5 min at 92°C). We then evaluated the effect of preheat treatments on MPC gel properties, including storage modulus (G′), loss tangent (tan δ), firmness, whey separation, and microstructure. The results indicated that without preheating, evaporation (EP)-MPC had higher G′ and firmness, and lower tan δ and whey separation than nanofiltration (NF)-MPC. These results suggest that EP-MPC produced a better acid-induced gel than NF-MPC when no preheat treatments were performed. After preheating, however, except for a very small difference in the final G′ (EP-MPC was higher), the 2 MPC did not differ significantly in firmness, final tan δ, or whey separation. Additionally, compared with the gel of unheated MPC, both preheat-treated gels (NF-MPC and EP-MPC) achieved increased G′ and firmness and decreased tan δ and whey separation. The preheat-treated MPC also displayed a more flexible-stranded network. These findings demonstrate that, given a suitable heating treatment, NF-MPC compares favorably with EP-MPC in achieving desired gel properties.

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Effect of chromium on bioenergetics and leukocyte dynamics following immunoactivation in lactating Holstein cows

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): E.A. Horst, S.K. Kvidera, E.J. Mayorga, C.S. Shouse, M. Al-Qaisi, M.J. Dickson, J. Ydstie, H.A. Ramirez Ramirez, A.F. Keating, D.J. Dickson, K.E. Griswold, L.H. Baumgard
Activated immune cells are insulin sensitive and utilize copious amounts of glucose. Because chromium (Cr) increases insulin sensitivity and may be immunomodulatory, our objective was to evaluate the effect of supplemental Cr (KemTrace Cr propionate, 20 g/d; Kemin Industries Inc., Des Moines, IA) on immune system glucose utilization and immune system dynamics following an intravenous endotoxin challenge in lactating Holstein cows. Twenty cows (320 ± 18 d in milk) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (1) pair-fed (PF) control (PF-CON; 5 mL of saline; n = 5), (2) PF and Cr supplemented (PF-Cr; 5 mL of saline; n = 5), (3) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-euglycemic clamp and control supplemented (LPS-CON; 0.375 µg/kg of body weight LPS; n = 5), and (4) LPS-euglycemic clamp and Cr supplemented (LPS-Cr; 0.375 µg/kg of body weight LPS; n = 5). The experiment was conducted serially in 3 periods (P). During P1 (3 d), cows received their respective dietary treatments and baseline values were obtained. At the initiation of P2 (2 d), either a 12-h LPS-euglycemic clamp was conducted or cows were PF to their respective dietary counterparts. During P3 (3 d), cows consumed feed ad libitum and continued to receive their respective dietary treatment. During P2, LPS administration decreased dry matter intake (DMI; 40%) similarly among diets, and by experimental design the pattern and magnitude of reduced DMI were similar in the PF cohorts. During P3, LPS-Cr cows tended to have decreased DMI (6%) relative to LPS-CON cows. Relative to controls, milk yield from LPS-challenged cows decreased (58%) during P2 and LPS-Cr cows produced less (16%) milk than LPS-CON cows. During P3, milk yield progressively increased similarly in LPS-administered cows, but overall milk yield remained decreased (24%) compared with PF controls. There were no dietary treatment differences in milk yield during P3. Circulating insulin increased 9- and 15-fold in LPS-administered cows at 6 and 12 h postbolus, respectively, compared with PF controls. Compared with LPS-CON cows, circulating insulin in LPS-Cr cows was decreased (48%) at 6 h postbolus. Relative to PF cows, circulating LPS binding protein and serum amyloid A from LPS-administered cows increased 2- and 5-fold, respectively. Compared with PF cows, blood neutrophil counts in LPS-infused cows initially decreased, then gradually increased 163%. Between 18 and 48 h postbolus, the number of neutrophils was increased (12%) in LPS-Cr versus LPS-CON cows. The 12-h total glucose deficit was 220 and 1,777 g for the PF and LPS treatments, respectively, but glucose utilization following immune activation was not influenced by Cr. In summary, supplemental Cr reduced the insulin response and increased circulating neutrophils following an LPS challenge but did not appear to alter the immune system's glucose requirement following acute and intense activation.

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Microbial community dynamics of a blue-veined raw milk cheese from the United Kingdom

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Dewi Yunita, Christine E.R. Dodd
A commercial blue-veined cheese made from unpasteurized milk was examined by conventional culturing and PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the bacterial community 16S rRNA genes using 3 primer sets, V3, V4V5, and V6V8. Genomic DNA for amplification was extracted directly from raw milk, starter culture, cheese at different stages of production, fully ripened cheese, and from the cultured cells grown on various media. The outer rind was sampled separately from the inner white core and blue veins. A diverse microbiota containing Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus curvatus, Staphylococcus gallinarum, Staphylococcus devriesei, Microbacterium sp., Sphingobacterium sp., Mycetocola sp., Brevundimonas sp., Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus sp., and Kocuria sp. was detected in the raw milk using culturing methods, but only Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Enterococcus faecalis survived to the final cheese and were detected both in the core and the rind. Using PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the cheese process samples, Staphylococcus equorum and Enterococcus durans were found in the rind of prepiercing samples but not in the core and veins; after piercing, these species were found in all parts of the cheese but survived only in the rind when the cheese was fully ripened. Brevibacterium sp., Halomonas sp., Acinetobacter sp., Alkalibacterium sp., and Corynebacterium casei were identified only by PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and not cultured from the samples. Brevibacterium sp. was initially identified in the cheese postpiercing (core and veins), Halomonas sp. was found in the matured cheese (rind), and Acinetobacter sp., Alkalibacterium sp., and Corynebacterium casei were also found in the prepiercing samples (rind) and then found through the subsequent process stages. The work suggests that in this raw milk cheese, a limited community from the milk survive to the final cheese, with salt addition and handling contributing to the final cheese consortium.

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Variations in methane yield and microbial community profiles in the rumen of dairy cows as they pass through stages of first lactation

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Tamsin Lyons, Anita Bielak, Evelyn Doyle, Björn Kuhla
Considerable interest exists both from an environmental and economic perspective in reducing methane emissions from agriculture. In ruminants, CH4 is produced by a complex community of microorganisms that is established in early life but can be influenced by external factors such as feed. Although CH4 emissions were thought to be constant once an animal reached maturity, recent studies have shown that CH4 yield significantly increases from early to late lactation in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that increases in CH4 yield over the lactation cycle are related to changes in rumen microbial community structure. Nine cows were monitored throughout their first lactation cycle. Methane and dry matter intake were measured to calculate CH4 per dry matter intake (CH4 yield) and ruminal fluid was collected during early, mid, and late lactation. A significant difference in bacterial and archaeal community structure during early and late lactation was observed. Furthermore, when ruminal short-chain fatty acid concentrations were measured, the ratio of acetate and butyrate to propionate was significantly higher in late lactation compared with early lactation. Propionate concentrations were higher in cows with low CH4 yield during late lactation, but no differences were observed in bacterial or archaeal community structures. Prevotella dominated the rumen of cows followed by Succinclasticum; Treponema, Fibrobacter, Ruminococcus, and Bifidobacterium were also in high abundance relative to other bacterial genera. In general, positive correlations were stronger between the most relatively abundant bacterial genera and acetate and butyrate concentrations in the cows with high CH4 and weaker between these genera and propionate concentration. This study indicates that increased CH4 yield in late lactation is reflected in significant changes in microbial community structure.

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Components of the covariances between reproductive performance traits and milk protein concentration and milk yield in dairy cows

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): J.M. Morton, J.E. Pryce, M. Haile-Mariam
Reproductive performance in dairy cows can be improved through genetic selection and herd management. Milk protein concentration is strongly associated with various measures of reproductive performance, but the relative importance of genetic and environmental components of these associations have not been defined. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the magnitudes of correlations and covariances between 9 reproductive performance traits in dairy cows and each of milk protein concentration and milk yield at 4 levels: genetic, permanent environmental effects of cow, herd-year-season, and residual levels. A retrospective single cohort study was conducted using data collected from seasonally and split calving dairy herds. We used animal models to partition covariances for the relationships between 9 fertility traits and each of milk protein concentration and milk yield at lactation level, with up to 80,203 lactations from 27,244 cows that were 780 herd-year-seasons in 65 herds. For the fertility traits, of the explained covariance with milk protein concentration, between 33 and 79% (median 53%) was genetic and 21 to 67% (median 47%) was nongenetic. We concluded that research should be conducted to identify management strategies that capture the nongenetic components of relationships between milk protein concentration and reproductive performance. Genetic correlations with milk protein concentration were generally similar to genetic correlations with milk yield, but the correlation with milk protein concentration was closer (i.e., the absolute value of the correlation coefficient was nearer to 1) for pregnant by wk 6, a key trait for seasonally and split calving dairy herds (correlation coefficient ± standard error = 0.28 ± 0.05 and −0.17 ± 0.07 for milk protein concentration and milk yield, respectively). As the associations also have substantial genetic components, it is possible that reliabilities of estimated breeding values for fertility may be improved by including milk protein concentration in multitrait genetic evaluation models for fertility traits. From our preliminary analyses, reliabilities were only slightly higher when pregnancy by wk 6 of the breeding period was analyzed with milk protein concentration rather than alone or with milk yield, but further research should be considered to assess this question. Importantly, the benefits of these strong relationships can only be fully harnessed through joint use of both management strategies and genetic strategies.

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Short communication: Phenotypic characterization of total antioxidant activity of buffalo, goat, and sheep milk

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): G. Niero, S. Currò, A. Costa, M. Penasa, M. Cassandro, C. Boselli, G. Giangolini, M. De Marchi
Free radicals are reactive and unstable waste scrap molecules produced by cells, responsible of damages and alteration on DNA, proteins, and fat. The daily intake of antioxidant compounds, acting against free radicals and their detrimental effects, is essential for human health. Milk contains several compounds with antioxidant activity, and the sum of their reducing potential blocking free radicals development is defined as total antioxidant activity (TAA). This novel trait has been described in literature both in individual and bulk cow milk, but there are no reports from other dairy species. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate phenotypic variation of TAA in individual samples of buffalo (n = 105), goat (n = 112), and sheep (n = 198) milk. Total antioxidant activity was measured through a reference spectrophotometric method, and expressed as millimoles per liter of Trolox equivalents (TE). The greatest TAA was observed in sheep milk, averaging 7.78 mmol/L of TE and showing also the broadest phenotypic variation expressed as coefficient of variation (13.98%). Significantly lower TAA values were observed for buffalo (7.35 mmol/L of TE) and goat (6.80 mmol/L of TE) milk, with coefficients of variation of 8.18 and 8.47%, respectively. Total antioxidant activity exhibited weak correlations with milk yield and chemical composition. Phenotypic values of TAA presented in this study will be used to assess the ability of mid-infrared spectroscopy to predict this new trait and thus to collect data at the population level.

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Variation in x-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) expression and its dependent endoplasmic reticulum chaperones does not regulate adiponectin secretion in dairy cows

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): C.S. Krumm, S.L. Giesy, C.L. Orndorff, Y.R. Boisclair
Adiponectin is an insulin-sensitizing hormone produced predominantly by adipose tissue; it circulates as oligomers of 3, 6, 18, or more units. Plasma adiponectin might be involved in the development of insulin resistance in transition dairy cows because it falls to a nadir around parturition. The possibility that this regulation occurs through a post-transcriptional mechanism was suggested in a previous study that showed unchanged adiponectin mRNA abundance combined with reduced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones implicated in assembly of adiponectin oligomers. Expression of ER chaperones is controlled by x-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), suggesting a model whereby transcriptional regulation of ER chaperones during the transition period contributes to the regulation of adiponectin production. In support of this model, XBP1 expression in adipose tissue, measured either as the active spliced XBP1 mRNA or as the total of all XBP1 mRNA isoforms, was 45% lower on d 8 of lactation than 4 wk before parturition; ATF6 mRNA abundance remained unchanged over the same period. To assess the functional importance of XBP1, preadipocytes isolated from pregnant cows were differentiated into adipocytes that secrete adiponectin. Infection of differentiating cells with an adenovirus expressing the active spliced version of bovine XBP1 did not alter adiponectin mRNA but increased the expression of ER chaperones 1.5- to 5-fold. Despite the latter, XBP1 overexpression did not affect the total amount of adiponectin secreted in medium. In additional experiments, adiponectin production was dependent on exogenous lipid in the medium and was reduced during incubation with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). Accordingly, we asked whether the repressive effects of these factors on adiponectin production were related to a reduction in the expression of adiponectin or determinants of ER function (XBP1, ATF6, and ER chaperones). Exogenous lipid had no effect on the expression of any of these genes, whereas TNFα repressed adiponectin mRNA abundance by 61% but had little effect on determinants of ER function. Overall, this work shows that XBP1 is a positive regulator of ER chaperone expression in adipose tissue but provides no support for XBP1 and its dependent ER chaperones in the regulation of adiponectin production in bovine adipocytes. Mechanisms accounting for reduced plasma adiponectin in transition cows remain poorly understood.

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Predicting enteric methane emission of dairy cows with milk Fourier-transform infrared spectra and gas chromatography–based milk fatty acid profiles

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): S. van Gastelen, H. Mollenhorst, E.C. Antunes-Fernandes, K.A. Hettinga, G.G. van Burgsteden, J. Dijkstra, J.L.W. Rademaker
The objective of the present study was to compare the prediction potential of milk Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for CH4 emissions of dairy cows with that of gas chromatography (GC)–based milk fatty acids (MFA). Data from 9 experiments with lactating Holstein-Friesian cows, with a total of 30 dietary treatments and 218 observations, were used. Methane emissions were measured for 3 consecutive days in climate respiration chambers and expressed as production (g/d), yield (g/kg of dry matter intake; DMI), and intensity (g/kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk; FPCM). Dry matter intake was 16.3 ± 2.18 kg/d (mean ± standard deviation), FPCM yield was 25.9 ± 5.06 kg/d, CH4 production was 366 ± 53.9 g/d, CH4 yield was 22.5 ± 2.10 g/kg of DMI, and CH4 intensity was 14.4 ± 2.58 g/kg of FPCM. Milk was sampled during the same days and analyzed by GC and by FTIR. Multivariate GC-determined MFA–based and FTIR-based CH4 prediction models were developed, and subsequently, the final CH4 prediction models were evaluated with root mean squared error of prediction and concordance correlation coefficient analysis. Further, we performed a random 10-fold cross validation to calculate the performance parameters of the models (e.g., the coefficient of determination of cross validation). The final GC-determined MFA–based CH4 prediction models estimate CH4 production, yield, and intensity with a root mean squared error of prediction of 35.7 g/d, 1.6 g/kg of DMI, and 1.6 g/kg of FPCM and with a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.72, 0.59, and 0.77, respectively. The final FTIR-based CH4 prediction models estimate CH4 production, yield, and intensity with a root mean squared error of prediction of 43.2 g/d, 1.9 g/kg of DMI, and 1.7 g/kg of FPCM and with a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.52, 0.40, and 0.72, respectively. The GC-determined MFA–based prediction models described a greater part of the observed variation in CH4 emission than did the FTIR-based models. The cross validation results indicate that all CH4 prediction models (both GC-determined MFA–based and FTIR-based models) are robust; the difference between the coefficient of determination and the coefficient of determination of cross validation ranged from 0.01 to 0.07. The results indicate that GC-determined MFA have a greater potential than FTIR spectra to estimate CH4 production, yield, and intensity. Both techniques hold potential but may not yet be ready to predict CH4 emission of dairy cows in practice. Additional CH4 measurements are needed to improve the accuracy and robustness of GC-determined MFA and FTIR spectra for CH4 prediction.

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Comparison of 0.46% calcium diets with and without added anions with a 0.7% calcium anionic diet as a means to reduce periparturient hypocalcemia

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Jesse P. Goff, Nicholas J. Koszewski
Most studies demonstrating that diets with low dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) reduce hypocalcemia in cows add enough anions to the diet to reduce urine pH below 7.0. One objective of these experiments was to determine whether there is any benefit to periparturient plasma Ca concentration if diet anion addition results in a lesser degree of acidification of the cow and urine pH does not go below 7.0. Another method for reducing hypocalcemia involves feeding a prepartal diet that is Ca deficient. This places the cow in negative Ca balance before calving, stimulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D secretion before calving and thus promoting Ca homeostasis at calving. As practiced in the field, low-Ca diets are often about 0.5% Ca. Our second objective was to determine whether a 0.46% Ca diet would be sufficiently low in Ca to stimulate PTH secretion before calving. A meta-analysis of the literature suggests that a 0.5% Ca, low-DCAD diet will reduce hypocalcemia better than a 0.7% Ca diet. A third objective was to compare periparturient plasma Ca in cows fed 0.46 or 0.72% Ca diets with similar DCAD. In experiment 1, anions (primarily chloride) or anions plus Ca were added to a 1.4% K basal diet to create the following diets: 0.46% Ca and +167 mEq/kg of DCAD, 0.46% Ca and −13 mEq/kg of DCAD, and 0.72% Ca and −17 mEq/kg of DCAD. In experiment 2, the same amounts of anion were added to a 2.05% K basal diet to create the following diets: 0.46% Ca and +327 mEq/kg of DCAD, 0.46% Ca and +146 mEq/kg of DCAD, and 0.72% Ca and +140 mEq/kg of DCAD. In experiment 1, cows fed the diet with 0.46% Ca and +167 mEq/kg of DCAD had significantly lower plasma Ca concentration after calving than cows fed the 0.46 or 0.72% Ca diets with anions. Periparturient plasma Ca concentrations did not differ in cows fed the low-DCAD diets with 0.46 or 0.72% Ca. Urine pH was reduced from 8.27 in the diet with 0.46% Ca and +167 mEq/kg of DCAD to 7.07 and 7.41 in the 0.46 and 0.72% Ca anion diets, respectively. Precalving plasma PTH and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations were similar in cows fed the 0.46% Ca diets and the 0.72% Ca diets, suggesting that the 0.46% Ca diets were not low enough in Ca to place the cow in negative Ca balance before calving. In experiment 2, adding the anion supplements to a 2.05% K diet did not reduce urine pH below 8.0. Periparturient plasma Ca concentrations did not differ in cows in any group in experiment 2. Precalving diets that are 0.46% Ca fed ad libitum are too high in Ca to stimulate Ca homeostasis before calving. Adding anions to a diet can benefit periparturient cow plasma Ca concentration, but only if it alters acid–base status enough to reduce urine pH below 7.5.

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Candidate gene association analyses for ketosis resistance in Holsteins

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): V. Kroezen, F.S. Schenkel, F. Miglior, C.F. Baes, E.J. Squires
High-yielding dairy cattle are susceptible to ketosis, a metabolic disease that negatively affects the health, fertility, and milk production of the cow. Interest in breeding for more robust dairy cattle with improved resistance to disease is global; however, genetic evaluations for ketosis would benefit from the additional information provided by genetic markers. Candidate genes that are proposed to have a biological role in the pathogenesis of ketosis were investigated in silico and a custom panel of 998 putative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers was developed. The objective of this study was to test the associations of these new markers with deregressed estimated breeding values (EBV) for ketosis. A sample of 653 Canadian Holstein cows that had been previously genotyped with a medium-density SNP chip were regenotyped with the custom panel. The EBV for ketosis in first and later lactations were obtained for each animal and deregressed for use as pseudo-phenotypes for association analyses. Results of the mixed inheritance model for single SNP association analyses suggested 15 markers in 6 unique candidate genes were associated with the studied trait. Genes encoding proteins involved in metabolic processes, including the synthesis and degradation of fatty acids and ketone bodies, gluconeogenesis, lipid mobilization, and the citric acid cycle, were identified to contain SNP associated with ketosis resistance. This work confirmed the presence of previously described quantitative trait loci for dairy cattle, suggested novel markers for ketosis-resistance, and provided insight into the underlying biology of this disease.

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Multibreed genomic prediction using multitrait genomic residual maximum likelihood and multitask Bayesian variable selection

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): M.P.L. Calus, M.E. Goddard, Y.C.J. Wientjes, P.J. Bowman, B.J. Hayes
Genomic prediction is applicable to individuals of different breeds. Empirical results to date, however, show limited benefits in using information on multiple breeds in the context of genomic prediction. We investigated a multitask Bayesian model, presented previously by others, implemented in a Bayesian stochastic search variable selection (BSSVS) model. This model allowed for evidence of quantitative trait loci (QTL) to be accumulated across breeds or for both QTL that segregate across breeds and breed-specific QTL. In both cases, single nucleotide polymorphism effects were estimated with information from a single breed. Other models considered were a single-trait and multitrait genomic residual maximum likelihood (GREML) model, with breeds considered as different traits, and a single-trait BSSVS model. All single-trait models were applied to each of the 2 breeds separately and to the pooled data of both breeds. The data used included a training data set of 6,278 Holstein and 722 Jersey bulls, as well as 374 Jersey validation bulls. All animals had genotypes for 474,773 single nucleotide polymorphisms after editing and phenotypes for milk, fat, and protein yields. Using the same training data, BSSVS consistently outperformed GREML. The multitask BSSVS, however, did not outperform single-trait BSSVS, which used pooled Holstein and Jersey data for training. Thus, the rigorous assumption that the traits are the same in both breeds yielded a slightly better prediction than a model that had to estimate the correlation between the breeds from the data. Adding the Holstein data significantly increased the accuracy of the single-trait GREML and BSSVS in predicting the Jerseys for milk and protein, in line with estimated correlations between the breeds of 0.66 and 0.47 for milk and protein yields, whereas only the BSSVS model significantly improved the accuracy for fat yield with an estimated correlation between breeds of only 0.05. The relatively high genetic correlations for milk and protein yields, and the superiority of the pooling strategy, is likely the result of the observed admixture between both breeds in our data. The Bayesian model was able to detect several QTL in Holsteins, which likely enabled it to outperform GREML. The inability of the multitask Bayesian models to outperform a simple pooling strategy may be explained by the fact that the pooling strategy assumes equal effects in both breeds; furthermore, this assumption may be valid for moderate- to large-sized QTL, which are important for multibreed genomic prediction.

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Technical note: Validation and comparison of 2 commercially available activity loggers

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Per Peetz Nielsen, Ilaria Fontana, Karen Helle Sloth, Marcella Guarino, Harry Blokhuis
To validate the accuracy of 2 commercially available activity loggers in determining lying, standing, walking, and number of steps in dairy cows, 30 cows were fitted with the CowScout Leg (GEA Farm Technologies, Bönen, Germany) system and the IceTag (IceRobotics Ltd., Edinburgh, Scotland) system. The CowScout Leg logger reports standing and lying in 15-min periods, whereas the IceTag logger reports standing and lying every second. To make data comparable, the IceTag data were therefore also summarized over 15-min periods corresponding to the paired CowScout Leg sensor. These data from the 2 systems were then analyzed (more than 1,000 cow days in total). Video recordings of a total of 29.5 h were used for labeling the behaviors of the selected cows (n = 10) and these labels were used as a gold standard to determine the accuracy with which these 2 loggers can record behavioral states lying, standing, walking, and the behavioral event number of steps. A concordance correlation coefficient analysis showed that both the standing and lying durations obtained with the 2 systems were almost perfectly correlated with the video labeling (IceTag: ρc = 0.999 and 0.999, respectively; CowScout Leg: ρc = 0.995 and 0.996, respectively). However, both loggers performed poorly regarding number of steps (classified as an event; IceTag: ρc = 0.629; CowScout Leg: ρc = 0.678) and CowScout Leg did not detect walking (classified as a state) very accurately (ρc = 0.860). The IceTag system does not measure walking behavior. When comparing the 2 loggers, the correlation between them for standing and lying was substantial (ρc = 0.953 and ρc = 0.953, respectively). The number of steps poorly correlated between the 2 loggers (ρc = 0.593), which might be due to the CowScout Leg logger being attached to the front leg and the IceTag logger being attached to the hind leg. We conclude that both the IceTag and the CowScout Leg logger are able to record standing and lying almost perfectly, but the step counting by both loggers and the walking recording by the CowScout Leg logger are not very accurate.

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Determination of in vitro isoflavone degradation in rumen fluid

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Andrea Trnková, Kateřina Šancová, Martina Zapletalová, Jitka Kašparovská, Kateřina Dadáková, Ludmila Křížová, Jan Lochman, Sylvie Hadrová, Ivana Ihnatová, Tomáš Kašparovský
The aim of this study was to determine the degradation of dietary isoflavones in rumen fluid under 2 feeding regimens. The experiments were performed in vitro using a rumen fluid buffer system. The rumen fluid was taken from cows fed either a hay diet or a concentrate-rich diet (the diet consisted of 34.6% maize silage, 17.6% haylage, 12.8% alfalfa hay, and 35.0% supplemental mixture on a dry matter basis). As a source of isoflavones, 40% soybean extract (Biomedica, Prague, Czech Republic) at levels of 5, 25, 50, and 75 mg per 40 mL of rumen fluid was used. Samples of soybean extract were incubated in triplicate at 39°C for 0, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, and 24.0 h in incubation solution. The metabolism of daidzein and genistein was faster under concentrate-rich diet conditions. In general, production of equol started after 3 to 6 h of incubation and reached the highest rate after approximately 12 h of incubation regardless of the type of diet or concentration of extract. In most of the experiments, production of equol continued after 24 h of incubation. Generally, equol production was greater under the hay diet conditions. Furthermore, experiments with higher amounts of added soybean extract revealed possible inhibitory effects of high levels of isoflavones on the rumen microflora.

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Symposium review: Microbial endocrinology—Why the integration of microbes, epithelial cells, and neurochemical signals in the digestive tract matters to ruminant health

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Mark Lyte, Daniel N. Villageliú, Brian A. Crooker, David R. Brown
The union of microbiology and neurobiology, which has been termed microbial endocrinology, is defined as the study of the ability of microorganisms to produce and respond to neurochemicals that originate either within the microorganisms themselves or within the host they inhabit. It serves as the basis for an evolutionarily derived method of communication between a host and its microbiota. Mechanisms elucidated by microbial endocrinology give new insight into the ways the microbiota can affect host stress, metabolic efficiency, resistance to disease, and other factors that may prove relevant to the dairy industry.

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The effect of temperate or tropical pasture grazing state and grain-based concentrate allocation on dairy cattle production and behavior

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): C.E.F. Clark, R. Kaur, L.O. Millapan, H.M. Golder, P.C. Thomson, A. Horadagoda, M.R. Islam, K.L. Kerrisk, S.C. Garcia
Grain-based concentrate (GBC) supplement is of high cost to dairy farmers as a feed source as opposed to grazed pasture. Milk production response to GBC is affected by the composition and nutritive value of the remainder of the diet, animal factors, and interactions between forage type and level of GBC. In grazing systems, dairy cattle encounter contrasting pasture states, primarily because the social structure of the herd affects the timing of when each animal accesses a paddock after milking as a result of a relatively consistent cow milking order. However, the effect of feed management, namely pasture state and GBC allocation, on dairy cattle production and behavior is unknown. We examined the effect of varying GBC allocation for dairy cattle grazing differing states of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum, a tropical pasture species; experiment 1) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L., a temperate pasture species; experiment 2) on dry matter intake, milk production and composition, and grazing behavior. For each experiment, 90 lactating dairy cattle were randomly allocated to 2 consistent (fresh–fresh and depleted–depleted) and 2 inconsistent (fresh–depleted and depleted–fresh pasture state treatments (defined as sequences of pasture state allocation for the morning and afternoon grazing events) and 3 GBC treatments [2.7, 5.4, and 8.1 kg of dry matter (DM)/cow per day], giving 12 treatment combinations for each experiment. The duration of each experiment was 14 d, with the first 7 d used as adaptation to treatment. In each experiment, 3 cattle were selected from each of the 12 pasture type × GBC treatment groups within the experimental herd to determine herbage intake and total DM digestibility using the n-alkanes method (n = 36). There was no interaction between kikuyu grass or ryegrass pasture state and GBC level for intake, digestibility, or milk yield or components. Dairy cattle offered fresh–fresh and depleted–fresh ryegrass produced 9% more milk yield, in line with greater pasture intakes, compared with fresh–depleted and depleted–depleted pasture states. Dairy cattle offered fresh–fresh kikuyu grass had 8% more milk yield and 14% more milk protein yield than other pastures states, but there was no effect of pasture state on milk composition. Milk yield increased with GBC level for both pasture species (∼0.7–0.8 kg of milk/kg of DM GBC) as GBC level increased from 2.5 to 5.4 kg of DM/cow per day. There was a poor response (0.3 kg of milk/kg of DM GBC), and no response, when GBC levels increased from 5.4 to 8.1 kg of DM/cow per day for kikuyu grass and ryegrass, respectively, in line with pasture DMD. Time spent grazing, lying, and ruminating were not associated with kikuyu grass pasture state, GBC, or their interaction. Despite this, there was a linear increase in grazing time in the afternoon coinciding with a linear decrease in lying and rumination time for both kikuyu grass and ryegrass pasture. Together these findings reveal the effect of pasture state and GBC allocation on dairy cattle production and behavior. Tailoring GBC allocation to the state of pasture accessed by cattle appears unwarranted, but there is an opportunity to alter the timing of pasture access to increase herd-level milk production efficiency.

http://ift.tt/2papRJ5

The effect of prepartum feeding and lying space on metabolic health and immune function

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Journal of Dairy Science
Author(s): Cynthia L. Miltenburg, Todd F. Duffield, Dorothee Bienzle, Elizabeth L. Scholtz, Stephen J. LeBlanc
The determinants of metabolic and reproductive health disorders in the peripartum period and the degree to which feeding and lying space and management can influence health are only partially understood. The objective of this randomized controlled study was to determine whether providing noncompetitive feeding and lying access in the close-up dry period improves health and immune function. Forty-eight Holstein cows of all parities were randomly assigned to a treatment group of 6 to 10 cows in 1 pen with either 80% cows to stalls and 90 cm of feeding space per cow (understocked) or 120% stocking density and 45 cm of feeding space per cow (overstocked) for 3 wk before expected calving. All cows wore electronic data loggers to monitor daily standing and lying time. Video recordings representing d 7 to 9 after group formation were reviewed, and a competition index (C_Ind) was calculated for each cow by dividing the number of times a cow displaced another as an actor by its total number of actor and reactor displacements. Cows were categorized as high success (C_Ind ≥0.6), moderate success (0.4 ≤ C_Ind <0.6), or low success (C_Ind <0.4). Weekly blood samples measured nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, calcium, glucose, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, haptoglobin, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 from 3 wk before to 5 wk after calving. Measures of innate immune function (neutrophil phagocytosis and oxidative burst) were assessed at −2, −1, 1, 2, 3, and 5 wk relative to calving. Liver biopsies were collected at wk 1 and 3. Cows in the understocked group spent significantly more time per day lying; the back-transformed least squares means and 95% confidence interval were 14.8 h (13.9–15.6) versus 12.8 h (12.0–13.7). Controlling for parity, there was no difference between treatments in β-hydroxybutyrate, nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, or haptoglobin concentrations. Throughout the study, cows in the understocked treatment had higher mean calcium and tended to have higher albumin and at 3 wk after calving tended to have lower mean liver triacylglycerol content. Overall, there was no treatment effect on phagocytosis, but cows with a higher C_Ind in the understocked treatment group had greater oxidative burst function. There was no effect of treatment on endometritis. Despite increased competition and lower lying time, the expected harmful effects of crowding and competition on metabolic indicators and innate immune function were mostly not observed. Although this does not refute the importance of access to feeding and lying space, these results indicate that metabolic and reproductive health is more complex than can be explained solely by exposure to what are understood to be best practices for space allowances.

http://ift.tt/2HBgmJE

How to assess the feeding activity in ecotoxicological laboratory tests using enchytraeids?

Abstract

The risk assessment of pesticides on soil fauna is an issue to protect agroecosystem sustainability. Enchytraeids are recognized as relevant soil bioindicators of chemical stress in agroecosystems. In laboratory, the reproduction test was found to be sensitive to reveal chemical impacts on enchytraeids. However, it does not allow to assess the impacts on ecological functions in which enchytraeids are involved. The objectives of this study were (i) to explore the feasibility of the bait-lamina test with enchytraeids under laboratory conditions and (ii) to compare its sensitivity with the Enchytraeid Reproduction Test. We exposed individuals of Enchytraeus albidus to two commercial formulations of fungicides widely used in Europe. The EC50 reproduction for the Swing^® Gold (50 g L⁻¹ epoxiconazole and 133 g L⁻¹ dimoxystrobin) and the Cuprafor micro^® (50% copper oxychloride) were respectively estimated at 1.66 ± 0.93 times the recommended dose and > 496 mg kg⁻¹ of copper. However, no impact was found on the feeding activity of enchytraeids. The bait-lamina test thus appeared less sensitive than the Enchytraeid Reproduction Test to the tested fungicides. Despite that, this test which is achievable under laboratory conditions and allows assessing indirect effects of pesticides is quick, cheap, and easy to perform. It would deserve to be used to explore longer-exposure effects through the repeated addition of bait-lamina sticks.

http://ift.tt/2Iq9foN

The Other and Me: Effects of oxytocin on self-other distinction

Publication date: Available online 14 March 2018
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): L. Tomova, M. Heinrichs, C. Lamm
Distinguishing self- from other-related representations plays an important role in social interactions. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to modulate social behavior as well as underlying social cognitions and emotions. However, how exactly oxytocin modulates representations of self and other is still unclear. The present study therefore aimed to assess effects of oxytocin on self-other distinction on two different processing levels (i.e., lower-level imitation-inhibition and higher-level perspective taking) in a male sample (n = 56) by performing a double-blind, placebo-controlled oxytocin administration study. Oxytocin improved visual perspective-taking and thus affected self-other distinction on the cognitive level, but had no effects on self-other distinction on the perceptual-motor level nor on a control task measuring attention reorientation. Thus, our findings suggest that oxytocin reduces ambiguity during perspective-taking in social interactions, which in turn may encourage social approach motivation and affiliative behavior.

http://ift.tt/2pfFGxk

Coordinating bracket torque and incisor inclination

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this investigation was to develop equations to describe the geometric relations among "targeted incisor inclinations" (tU1, tL1) accommodating different cephalometric norms (Ricketts, Bergen, etc.) with the "expected inclinations" (eU1, eL1), as they can be generated by bracket torque values according to Andrews, Roth, Ricketts, and MBT.

Methods

In its key parts, the present study is a theoretical work in which structural relationships are described using standard mathematical and geometric methodologies.

Results

The "targeted norm-inclinations" (tU1, tL1) were calculated relative to a single reference plane (BOP according to Downs), thus, allowing for a direct comparison of different cephalometric values. Referring to the "expected inclinations" (eU1, eL1), it was found that in addition to bracket torque (BT) morphological and structural parameters also have to be taken into account. These are the "torque coordination angle" (TCA) representing the variation in dental morphology and, the correction angles between BOP and the upper (uOP) (α₁) or the lower (lOP) occlusal plane (β₁). Moreover, the angles α₂ between an upper (uBPP) and β₂ between a lower bracket positioning plane (lBPP) and the occlusal planes (uOP, lOP) have to be considered. As a consequence, suitable equations were developed (eU1_(BOP) = 90° − BT_(U1) − TCA_(U1) + α₁ − α₂, and eL1_(BOP) = 90° − BT_(L1) − TCA_(L1) + β₁ − β₂), allowing the calculation of expected torque-dependent inclinations (eU1, eL1) and representing the prerequisite for a comparison with the cephalometric targeted values (tU1, tL1).

Conclusions

By developing suitable equations, it became possible to name and quantify those parameters that are responsible for incisor inclinations and enable a comparison with targeted cephalometric values.

http://ift.tt/2pfnTX6

Coordinating bracket torque and incisor inclination

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

In its key parts, the present study is a theoretical work in which structural relationships are described using standard mathematical and geometric methodologies.

Results

Conclusions

By developing suitable equations, it became possible to name and quantify those parameters that are responsible for incisor inclinations and enable a comparison with targeted cephalometric values.

http://ift.tt/2pfnTX6

Editorial Board

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Clinical Therapeutics, Volume 40, Issue 3

http://ift.tt/2pdfW5y

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Clinical Therapeutics, Volume 40, Issue 3

http://ift.tt/2FX9gBY

Corrigendum to “Cytological and histological changes in the urothelium produced by electromotive drug administration (EMDA) and by the combination of intravescical hyperthermia and chemotherapy (thermochemotherapy)” [Pathol. Res. Pract. 213 (2017) 1078–1081]

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Pathology - Research and Practice
Author(s): Francesco Pierconti, Patrizia Straccia, Sacco Emilio, Pier Francesco Bassi, Ivana De Pascalis, Rita C. Marques, Metka Volavsek, Luigi M. Larocca, Antonio Lopez-Beltran

http://ift.tt/2FD6kvb

Accumulation, fractionation, and risk assessment of mercury and arsenic in the soil-wheat system from the wastewater-irrigated soil in Baiyin, northwest China

Abstract

Wastewater irrigation can increase metal concentrations in soil and wheat, thereby posing metal-associated health risk via food ingestion. We investigated levels of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in roots, husks, stems, leaves, and grains of wheat and their fractionations in farmland soil from Baiyin City, an industrial and mining city, northwest China. Results show that the mean concentrations of Hg in soils from Dongdagou and Xidagou stream in Baiyin were 8.5 times and three times higher than local soil background values, respectively. Those of As were 4.5 times and 1.6 times higher, respectively. Most Hg and As were mainly accumulated in wheat leaves. The spatial distributions of As in soils and grains exhibit a very similar pattern, which suggest that As pollution in soils might be predicted by its level in wheat grains. Residual fractions for Hg (RES-Hg) and As (RES-As) are the highest compared to other fractions, indicating weak mobility of Hg and As in soil. The crop oral intake hazard quotients of both Hg and As for children were approximately two times higher than that for adults, indicating that children have higher exposure risks to Hg- and As-contaminated wheat. The crop oral intake was the main route of exposure causing non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for local residents.

http://ift.tt/2GtjqrN

Mineralization of humic acids (HAs) by a solar photo-Fenton reaction mediated by ferrioxalate complexes: commercial HAs vs extracted from leachates

Abstract

The mineralization of bio-recalcitrant humic acids (HAs) by a solar photo-Fenton (SPF) process was investigated in aqueous system, in order to understand its abatement in real high-HA content matrices, such as sanitary landfill leachates. SPF reactions were performed in tubular photoreactors with CPCs at lab-scale (simulated solar light) and pilot-scale (natural sunlight). Considering the experimental conditions selected for this work, the formation of insoluble HA-Fe³⁺ complexes was observed. Thus, to avoid HA precipitation, oxalic acid (Ox) was added, since Fe³⁺-Ox complexes present a higher stability constant. The effect of different process variables on the performance of SPF reaction mediated by ferrioxalate complexes (SPFF) was assessed with excess of H₂O₂ (50–250 mg L⁻¹), at lab-scale: (i) pH (2.8–4.0); (ii) initial iron concentration (20–60 mg Fe³⁺ L⁻¹); (iii) iron-oxalate molar ratio (Fe³⁺-Ox of 1:3 and 1:6); (iv) temperature (20–40 °C); (v) UV irradiance (21–58 W_UV m⁻²); and (vi) commercial-HA concentration (50–200 mg C L⁻¹). At the best lab conditions (40 mg Fe³⁺ L⁻¹, pH 2.8, 30 °C, 1.6 Fe³⁺-Ox molar ratio, 41 W_UV m⁻²), commercial HAs' mineralization profile was also compared with HAs extracted from a sanitary landfill leachate, achieving 88 and 91% of dissolved organic carbon removal, respectively, after 3-h irradiation (8.7 kJ_UV L⁻¹). Both reactions followed the same trend, although a 2.1-fold increase in the reaction rate was observed for the leachate-HA experiment, due to its lower humification degree. At pilot-scale, under natural sunlight, 95% HA mineralization was obtained, consuming 42 mM of H₂O₂ and 5.9 kJ_UV L⁻¹ of accumulated UV energy. However, a pre-oxidation during 2.8 kJ_UV L⁻¹ (12 mM H₂O₂) was enough to obtain a biodegradability index of 89%, showing the strong feasibility to couple the SPFF process to a downstream biological oxidation, with low chemicals and energetic demands.

Graphical abstract

ᅟ

http://ift.tt/2tO93MR

Scholar : New articles have been published for Journal of Natural History, Volume 52, Issue 9-10

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The following articles have been newly published in the issue Journal of Natural History, Volume 52, Issue 9-10 on Taylor & Francis Online:

Original Articles
Genus Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) from Cambodia, Part II: five new species, checklist and taxonomic key for the species in Cambodia
Sora Kim, Yang-Seop Bae, Seunghwan Lee
Pages: 607-620 | DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1444804

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Successful hemispherotomy in two refractory epilepsy patients with cerebral hemiatrophy and contralateral EEG abnormalities

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2018
Source:Brain and Development
Author(s): Rumiko Takayama, Katsumi Imai, Hiroko Ikeda, Koichi Baba, Naotaka Usui, Yukitoshi Takahashi, Yushi Inoue
We describe two cases of refractory epilepsy with cerebral hemiatrophy and contralateral electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities, in which hemispherotomy of the atrophic hemisphere effectively controlled seizures. Case 1 was a 5-year-1-month-old girl with refractory bilateral asymmetrical tonic posturing seizures predominantly in the right arm. Magnetic resonance imaging showed left porencephaly corresponding to a left middle cerebral artery infarction. Case 2 was a 3-year-8-month-old boy with refractory bilateral asymmetrical tonic posturing seizures predominantly in the right arm due to atrophy of the left cerebral hemisphere after septic meningitis. Both patients had right hemiparesis and was incapable of pinching by the right hand. Contralateral interictal and ictal EEG abnormalities were observed. Interictal ^99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (^99mTc-ECD) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed hypoperfusion and ictal ^99mTc-ECD-SPECT showed hyperperfusion within the left cerebral hemisphere. Left hemispherotomy was performed. Cases 1 and 2 remained seizure-free at the last follow-up 18 months and 15 months, respectively, after surgery, and contralateral interictal EEG abnormalities disappeared. In patients with cerebral hemiatrophy and contralateral EEG abnormalities, epilepsy surgery may be considered when the laterality of seizure semiology, functional imaging findings and motor deficits were concordant with the atrophic side. Ictal SPECT is effective to confirm the epileptogenic hemisphere.

http://ift.tt/2pjdqdk

Autophagy in the presynaptic compartment

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Volume 51
Author(s): Patrick Lüningschrör, Michael Sendtner
Regulated release of neurotransmitter depends on the orchestrated function of a large number of proteins in the presynaptic compartment. When synaptic vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane, these membranes and the attached proteins are endocytosed and either recycled or degraded. This turnover needs to be tightly regulated in a timely and spatially confined manner. Increasing evidence suggests that these mechanisms do not only serve for the removal of defective synaptic vesicles or structural proteins of the active zone but also contribute to pathways regulating synaptic strength. The corresponding presynaptic autophagy system thus appears also important for synaptic maintenance and plasticity. Exciting new studies provide evidence how the autophagy machinery recognizes and degrades synaptic components and lay the ground to understand how autophagy in the presynaptic compartment contributes to modulation and maintenance of synaptic function.

http://ift.tt/2FCQLn7

Molecular control of local translation in axon development and maintenance

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Volume 51
Author(s): Jean-Michel Cioni, Max Koppers, Christine E Holt
The tips of axons are often far away from the cell soma where most proteins are synthesized. Recent work has revealed that axonal mRNA transport and localised translation are key regulatory mechanisms that allow these distant outposts of the cell to respond rapidly to extrinsic factors and maintain axonal homeostasis. Here, we review recent evidence pointing to an increasingly broad role for local protein synthesis in controlling axon shape, synaptogenesis and axon survival by regulating diverse cellular processes such as vesicle trafficking, cytoskeletal remodelling and mitochondrial integrity. We further highlight current research on the regulatory mechanisms that coordinate the localization and translation of functionally linked mRNAs in axons.

http://ift.tt/2FKvqnR

The AMPK-activator AICAR in thyroid cancer: effects on CXCL8 secretion and on CXCL8-induced neoplastic cell migration

Abstract

Purpose

The AMPK-activator AICAR recently raised great interest for its anti-cancer properties. With specific regard to thyroid cancer, AICAR reduces cancer cell growth, invasion and metastasis. CXCL8, a chemokine with several recognized tumorigenic effects, is abundantly secreted in thyroid cancer microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate if AICAR could inhibit the basal and the TNFα-induced CXCL8 secretion in normal human thyroid cells (NHT) and in thyroid cancer cell lines TPC-1 and BCPAP (RET/PTC and BRAFV600e mutated, respectively).

Methods

The effect of AICAR on basal and CXCL8-induced cell migration was assessed. Cells were incubated with AICAR (0.05, 0.5, 1, 2 mM) alone or in combination with TNF-α (10 ng/ml) for 24 h. CXCL8 concentrations were measured in cell supernatants. Transwell migration assays were performed in NHT, TPC-1 and BCPAP, basally and after treatment with AICAR (2 mM) and rh-CXCL8 (50 ng/ml) alone or in combination.

Results

AICAR dose dependently inhibited the basal secretion of CXCL8 in TPC-1 (F = 4.26; p < 0.007) and BCPAP (F = 6.75; p < 0.0001) but not in NHT. TNFα-induced CXCL8 secretion was dose dependently reduced by AICAR in NHT (F = 9.99; p < 0.0001), TPC-1 (F = 9.25; p < 0.0001) and BCPAP (F = 6.82; p < 0.0001). AICAR significantly reduced the basal migration of TPC-1 and BCPAP but not of NHT.

Conclusions

CXCL8-induced cell migration was inhibited in NHT, TPC-1 and BCPAP. This is the first demonstration of the inhibition of CXCL8 secretion exerted by AICAR in TPC-1 and BCPAP indicating that the anti-cancer properties of AICAR are, at least in part, mediated by its ability to reduce the pro-tumorigenic effects of CXCL8.

http://ift.tt/2HzzkAk

Genetic alterations affecting the kynurenine pathway and their association with diseases

Publication date: Available online 14 March 2018
Source:Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research
Author(s): Fanni Boros, Zsuzsanna Bohár, László Vécsei
Tryptophan is metabolized primarily via the kynurenine pathway (KP). The KP involves several enzymes, including indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, tryptophan 2,3 dioxygenase (TDO2), kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs), kynurenine monooxigenase (KMO) etc. The majority of metabolites are neuroactive, some of them such as kynurenic acid show neuroprotective effects, while others, for example 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine and quinolinic acid contribute to free radical production, leading to neurodegeneration. Impaired balance of the pathway is assumed to participate in the development of several diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders, migraine and multiple sclerosis.The aim of this review is to summarize available literature data on genetic alterations of the KP, leading to disturbances of the pathway that can be related to different diseases.To achieve this goal, literature search was executed regarding the genetic alterations of enzymes related to the KP until April 2017 based on PubMed.Several genetic alterations of the KP were found, and suggested to be associated with diseases. Polymorphisms of the TDO2 gene can be associated with autism; KATII polymorphisms affect the immune response of patients with bacterial meningitis, mutations of the KMO gene can be associated with multiple sclerosis and cognitive functions in schizophrenia, just to mention a few.To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review of the genetic alterations of the KP enzymes. This work can promote the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the connected diseases, and might facilitate medicinal chemistry approaches to substitute missing components or correct the disturbed metabolite balance of KP.

http://ift.tt/2ItjfgG

Sodium selenite attenuates lung adenocarcinoma progression by repressing SOX2-mediated stemness

Abstract

Purpose

Sodium selenite (SS) has been widely reported to induce apoptosis in various cancer cell types. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms governing SS-mediated repression of lung cancer stem cells remain largely undefined.

Methods

In vitro assays of cell proliferation, clonal formation, apoptosis, migration and cancer stemness cell sphere formation were performed to examine the inhibitory effects of SS on lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) cells with or without the overexpression of SRY-related high-mobility-group box 2 (SOX2).

Results

SS significantly inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in LAD cells in a dose-dependent manner with marginal effects on normal epithelial cell HBEC. SS dramatically repressed expression of SOX2 and its upstream regulator GLI1 and strongly decreased stemness sphere formation in LAD cells at 10 µM. Forced expression of SOX2 significantly buffered anti-cancer effects of SS.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that SS attenuates lung adenocarcinoma progression by repressing SOX2 and its upstream regulator GLI1, which suggests that SS may be a potential therapeutic drug candidate for lung cancer patients.

http://ift.tt/2DsDcRp

Stomach cancer in Morocco: an 11-year retrospective study

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): A. Haimer, F. Habib, A. Soulaymani, A. Mokhtari, H. Hami

http://ift.tt/2FIuxff

Analysis of protein overexpression and Her2 gene amplification in gastric adenocarcinoma from Moroccan patients

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): L. Fahmi, H. Fettachi, H. Hamdaoui, H. Mossafa

http://ift.tt/2GvW2KA

Comparison of 3DCRT and VMAT treatment in neoadjuvant oesophageal cancer

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): O. Santa Cruz, P. Tsoutsou, M. Schäfer, R. Schneider, P. Weber, G. Guibert, C. Tamburella, D. Dragusanu, B. Yanes, M. Ozsahin

http://ift.tt/2GujDez

Acute cholecystitis due to gallbladder metastasis of a gastric diffuse adenocarcinoma

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): J. de Tomás, J.M. Monturiol, M.Á. Steiner, L. Gómez-Lanz

http://ift.tt/2DrojPa

Neoadjuvant phase II trial of chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) in patients with resectable (R) and borderline resectable (BR) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA)

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): V. Damarla, D. Dobrosotskaya, F. Siddiqui, I. Wollner, M. Raoufi, J. Li, D. Kwon, G. Khan

http://ift.tt/2FCc4Ff

Perioperative treatment strategies and current studies to improve gastric cancer outcomes in Japan

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): M. Terashima

http://ift.tt/2DtKlkm

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2

http://ift.tt/2GtwJZm

Endoscopic approach to signet cell cancer

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): S. Seewald

http://ift.tt/2Gy7Vjb

Hereditary gastric cancer

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): F. Carneiro

http://ift.tt/2FCc48d

The role of HIPEC in gastric cancer

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): F. Roviello

http://ift.tt/2DtJRuy

What imaging is needed to select patients for neoadjuvant treatment and where are the limitations?

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): A.M. Riddell

http://ift.tt/2GtbK97

Quality assurance in upper GI cancer

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): W. Allum

http://ift.tt/2DsyqmV

Patterns of recurrence to guide selection of multi-modal treatment

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): M. Verheij

http://ift.tt/2tKXiqs

K-RAS mutation in gastric cancer and its link with microsatellite instability status

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): F. Roviello, K. Polom, A. D'Ignazio, V. Pascale, D. Marrelli

http://ift.tt/2GuuJQN

The amount of cells with Signet Ring Cell morphology has a prognostic impact in poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): M. Bencivenga, E. Treppiedi, G. Verlato, V. Mengardo, S. Giacopuzzi, G. de Manzoni

http://ift.tt/2tRADIQ

FLOT, MAGIC or CROSS for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia?

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): E. Smyth

http://ift.tt/2GtwxJC

D2-lymphadenectomy and gastric resection in a consecutive series of patients with gastric cancer

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): A. Chiappa, E. Bertani, N. Fazio, D. Foschi, M. Venturino, C. Ferrari, L. Macone, M. Tullii, R. Biffi

http://ift.tt/2tTz7G2

Management, short and long-term outcomes in septegenerians and octegenerians undergoing gastrectomy for cancer

Publication date: March 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 92, Supplement 2
Author(s): V. Mengardo, O. McCormack, J. Weindelmayer, A. Chaudry, M. Bencivenga, S. Giacopuzzi, W.H. Allum, G. de Manzoni

http://ift.tt/2FSEUAO

Cumulative risk of skin tumours in patients with Lynch syndrome

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by a predisposition to colorectal cancer and extracolonic malignancies. LS is caused by a germline mutation in one of the four DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2) or loss of expression of MSH2 due to deletion in the EPCAM gene. Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS) is considered a variant of LS, in which patients present with sebaceous neoplasms and/or keratoacanthomas. A few studies and case reports suggest a relation between LS and other benign and (pre)-malignant skin tumours. Currently only patients presenting with sebaceous carcinoma are advised to be referred to a dermatologist for surveillance.

http://ift.tt/2Isml4O

Remote contralateral side cerebral venous thrombosis following intracranial surgery: A rare complication in an unusual setting

A Arivazhagan, Ravindranadh Chowdary Mundlamuri, AS Shreedhara, Rose Dawn Bharath, Anita Mahadevan, Sanjib Sinha, Malla Bhaskara Rao, P Satishchandra

Neurology India 2018 66(2):520-522

http://ift.tt/2pfOaEH

Extreme delta brushes in a 14-year old girl with anti-NMDAR encephalitis

Puneet Jain, Robyn Whitney, Cristina Go

Neurology India 2018 66(2):536-538

http://ift.tt/2pfZv7P

Founders of Indian Neurosciences: Professor Autar Singh Paintal and Professor Darab Kersasp Dastur

Prakash N Tandon

Neurology India 2018 66(2):301-303

http://ift.tt/2InqU05

Reminiscences of Neurosurgery training at AIIMS, New Delhi

Sureswar Mohanty

Neurology India 2018 66(2):298-300

http://ift.tt/2ItFCmo

Walter Edward Dandy (1886-1946): The epitome of adroitness and dexterity in Neurosurgery

Kalyan B Bhattacharyya

Neurology India 2018 66(2):304-307

Walter Edward Dandy did pioneering work in Neurosurgery in the early part of the 19th century. He worked all his life at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in USA and contributed extensively to research in hydrocephalus, the physiology of the cerebrospinal fluid and devised the technique of pneumoencephalography, apart from performing the first clipping operation in cerebral aneurysm and the division of the trigeminal nerve in neuralgic pain. This article summarizes his immense contributions in the field of Neurosurgery.

http://ift.tt/2ItpOzR

Solitary facet joint osteochondroma of the upper thoracic spine: An unusual cause of cord compression in the pediatric age group

Swaminathan Ganesh, Gandham E Jonathan, Bimal Patel, Krishna Prabhu

Neurology India 2018 66(2):555-556

http://ift.tt/2pi3alc

Brain death revisited

K Ganapathy

Neurology India 2018 66(2):308-315

Until six decades ago, death was considered to be a specific point in time, referring to the moment at which life ends. With the availability of ventilators, even determining when death has occurred is becoming difficult, as cessation of life functions is often not simultaneous across organ systems. With increasing accessibility to intensive care units (ICUs) even in Tier II and Tier III cities, and the government making it mandatory to notify brain death to facilitate cadaveric organ transplants, it behooves the neurosurgeon and neurologist to totally understand the minutiae of brain death. The author reflects on his personal experience in certifying brain death, over two decades, in a quaternary care hospital. Knowing the pathophysiology of brain stem dysfunction will help the clinician better understand the rationale of the mandatory clinical tests prescribed. The necessity for an early diagnosis and the pitfalls in the clinical diagnosis of brain death, the limitations of the so-called confirmatory tests, and the concerns and ethical issues will be highlighted. Review of the world literature demonstrates that there is no international consensus even on what constitutes brain death. An individual could be considered legally dead in one country but not in another!

http://ift.tt/2IqOkSr

Author's Reply: Progesterone with or without hypothermia in patients with acute severe traumatic brain injury

Sumit Sinha

Neurology India 2018 66(2):584-585

http://ift.tt/2pflCey

Deceased organ donation and transplantation in India: Promises and challenges

Aneesh Srivastava, Anil Mani

Neurology India 2018 66(2):316-322

Organ transplantation has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients all the world. The total organ donation shortage of the country can be met with if even 5 to 10% of the victims involved in fatal accidents serve as organ donors. The challenges include an interplay of sociocultural factors, beliefs and superstitions, lack of communication and organizational support, and negative views by the media. Several initiatives to encourage deceased organ donation include the Indian Network for Organ Sharing, a subdivision of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization, the Transplantation of Human Organ Act (THOA), as well as the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue Rules. There are stringent criteria instituted for the retrieval, preservation and transportation of donor organs. This article reviews the ongoing efforts being implemented to encourage organ transplantation.

http://ift.tt/2IpOABf

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Πέμπτη 15 Μαρτίου 2018

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