Sulfated Polysaccharides from Macroalgae Are Potent Dual Inhibitors of Human ATP-Hydrolyzing Ectonucleotidases NPP1 and CD39

Extracellular ATP mediates proinflammatory and antiproliferative effects via activation of P2 nucleotide receptors. In contrast, its metabolite, the nucleoside adenosine, is strongly immunosuppressive and enhances tumor proliferation and metastasis. The conversion of ATP to adenosine is catalyzed by ectonucleotidases, which are expressed on immune cells and typically upregulated on tumor cells. In the present study, we identified sulfopolysaccharides from brown and red sea algae to act as potent dual inhibitors of the main ATP-hydrolyzing ectoenzymes, ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) and ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 (NTPDase1, CD39), showing nano- to picomolar potency and displaying a non-competitive mechanism of inhibition. We showed that one of the sulfopolysaccharides tested as a representative example reduced adenosine formation at the surface of the human glioblastoma cell line U87 in a concentration-dependent manner. These natural products represent the most potent inhibitors of extracellular ATP hydrolysis known to date and have potential as novel therapeutics for the immunotherapy of cancer.     

Method of check analysis of microwave-modified wood

A photo-based method for statistical image analysis of microwave (MW)-modified timber was developed and applied to test sets of Radiata pine and eucalypt hardwoods (Messmate and Mountain Ash). The method is based on filling the checks in timber with stain solution and analysing the wood surface. Bethel impregnation process (in a pressurised treatment vessel) was used to produce uniform surface staining of the test samples. Image processing was automated and the number of manual operations (the human decision-making process) was minimised. A computer program that automates thresholding and a program that repairs the threshold image were written. The software allowed larger images to be analysed and reduced image processing time. The described method produced reliable check measurements and statistics for softwoods. Though suitable for estimating the quality of individual MW-modified hardwood specimens, the method was found to be inadequate for statistical analysis of eucalypt hardwoods because of collateral staining of vessels accompanied with a high level of stain penetration into the wood tissues.     

Influence of pre‐press solvent‐extracted cottonseed meal supplemented with exogenous enzyme and digestible lysine on performance,digestibility, carcass and immunity responses of broiler chickens

The response of broiler chickens to two levels of endo‐1,4‐β xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) and endo‐1,3‐β glucanase (EC 3.2.1.6) combination (with and without), three levels of digestible lysine (0.8%, 0.9% and 1.0% with the applicability of ideal protein concept) and two levels of cottonseed meal (CSM; 20% and 30%) were evaluated in 2 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. A total of 2448 male Hubbard broiler chicks were fed on practical vegetable‐based mash diets having 2750 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) per kg and 18.5% crude protein (CP) from the age of day 1 to 42. The supplemental enzyme had minimum 1100 units of endo‐1,4‐β xylanase and 100 units of endo‐1,3‐β glucanase/kg of finished diet. The addition of CSM at 30% resulted in increasing arginine to lysine ratio. A decrease in dressing and breast percentages were observed by the addition of 30% CSM. The digestible lysine at 1.0% decreased the body weight (BW) gain and lowered the mortality during day 1 to 21 whereas the BW gain and feed:gain ratio were unaffected among the three digestible lysine levels during day 1 to 42. The antibody titres against Newcastle and infectious bursal disease viruses were improved with the increasing levels of digestible lysine. The enzyme supplementation improved the apparent ME and digestibility coefficient of nitrogen when it was used with 30% CSM. No effect of enzyme, lysine, CSM or their interactions was observed on serum iron, gizzard and liver weights or abdominal fat percentage. The results showed that increasing digestible lysine improved the antibody titre but did not improve the growth performance and carcass characteristics; supplemental enzyme failed to show any improvement in performance of birds fed on CSM‐based diets.     

Synthesis of Ag-Loaded TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Electrospun Nanofibers for Photocatalytic Decolorization of Methylene Blue

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is one of the excellent photocatalysts used for degradation of environmetal pollutants. In this work, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 wt.% of silver (Ag)-loaded TiO₂ nanofibers of mean size 52–134 nm were synthesized by electrospinning method. These electrospun nanofibers were calcined at 500 °C to enable the transformation of Rutile (R) phase to Anatase (A), elimination of reaction moieties from the TiO₂ matrix and subsequently formation of Ag clusters. The effect of Ag loading on the morphology, crystal structure, phase transformation, and band gap of these electrospun nanofibers have been characterized by scannining electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), raman spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. These nanofibers exhibited a red-shift in the absorbance edge and a significant enhancement of light absorption in the wavelength range of 250–550 nm. These electrospun nanofibers were investigated for photodecomposition of methylene blue (MB), and photocatalytic decolorization rates were determined by pseudo-first-order equation. The rate constants for the pure and those of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt% Agloaded TiO₂ nanofibers were computed to be 0.1439 min^-1, 0.1608 min^-1, 0.1876 min^-1, and 0.2251 min^-1 respectively.     

Detection and comparison of nitric oxide in clinically healthy horses and those with naturally acquired strangulating large colon volvulus

The objective of the study was to determine whether nitric oxide (NO) is present in clinically healthy horses (control) under basal conditions, and if it increases secondary to naturally acquired strangulating large colon volvulus (affected). Eleven affected horses and 10 controls were studied. Jugular venous blood, abdominal fluid, and urine were collected. The NO concentrations were standardized to the creatinine concentration in the respective samples. A biopsy specimen collected from the large colon pelvic flexure at surgery was divided into subsections for processing for inducible nitric synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine (NT) immunohistochemical staining and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase histochemical staining. There were no significant differences in plasma, abdominal fluid, or urine NO concentrations between affected and control horses. There was a significant decrease in submucosal arteriolar and venular endothelium, submucosal plexus, mucosal leukocyte, mucosal and musclaris vasculature, and myenteric plexus NADPH diaphorase staining in affected versus control horses. There was a significant increase in iNOS staining in mucosal leukocytes and vasculature in affected versus control horses. Other than a greater number of positively stained mucosal leukocytes in affected horses, there were no significant differences between affected and control horses for NT staining. The presence of NADPH diaphorase staining in the endothelium and submucosal neurons suggests endothelial and neuronal NOS are present under basal conditions in the large colon of horses. Increased iNOS and NT staining in mucosal leukocytes of affected horses suggests involvement of the NO pathway in large colon volvulus. The reasons for the lack of a significant difference in plasma, abdominal fluid, and urine NO concentrations between affected and control horses are unknown.     

Exogenous tannase improves feeding value of a diet containing field beans (Vicia faba) when fed to broilers

1. A total of 72 male Ross 308 broilers were used in a study to investigate the effect of dietary tannase on apparent metabolisable energy (AME), coefficients of dry matter retention (DMR) and nitrogen retention (NR) and fat digestibility (FD) of a diet containing 300 g/kg field beans (Vicia faba). Growth performance variables and gastrointestinal tract development were also measured.

2. Two treatments were used in this study: control (C) and C + 3400 tannase units (TU) per kg feed. Diets were formulated to be nutritionally adequate with the exception that the AME was lower than recommended (12.65 vs 12.97 MJ/kg, respectively).

3. Inclusion of tannase increased AME by 0.4 MJ/kg DM. Tannase supplementation improved dietary DMR, NR and FD by 2.8%, 3.2% and 6.5%, respectively.

4. Birds given tannase had 4.4% reduction in feed intake and 2.6% improvement in gain to feed ratio (P < 0.05). Compared to control diet, birds given tannase had reduced relative to body weight (%BW) proventriculus and gizzard and pancreas weights, 3.29% vs 3.09% and 0.47% vs 0.44%, respectively.

5. The mechanisms of action of the studied enzyme require further elucidation.

     

β-葡聚糖酵母对肉鸡生长性能的影响

1引言通常在肉鸡日粮中添加低浓度(亚治疗剂量)的抗生素以求能促进肉鸡的生长、提高其饲料效率、减少肉鸡个体间的差异、预防疾病和提高碳水化合物和脂肪的消化。它们的应用已使肉鸡养殖业能够大量生产价廉、味美的     

Injuries and outcome of three horses hospitalised in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac

This case series describes 3 horses rescued from flooded areas, hospitalised and treated at the Louisiana State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. The purpose of the paper is to familiarise practitioners with the injuries that may be found in flood‐afflicted horses and livestock. Case 1 presented with a degloving injury of the right hindlimb. The gelding developed neurological signs and was subjected to euthanasia; necropsy was consistent with Salmonella sepsis and disseminated mycosis due to Candida krusei, the first case reported in a horse. Case 2 presented with dermatitis attributable to chemical exposure and pneumonia and was subjected to euthanasia due to severe bilateral laminitis. Case 3 sustained a degloving injury of the left hindlimb and was subjected to euthanasia due to intractable pain. This case series illustrates the need for preparation and evacuation to avoid life‐threatening injuries in equids and livestock caused by hurricanes and their aftermath.     

SCAR markers: A potential tool for authentication of herbal drugs

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is easy to develop and simple molecular marker, but lack of reproducibility makes it less reliable for authentication of herbal drugs. Besides RAPD, other popular PCR and non-PCR based markers like AFLP, ISSR, SSR and RFLP are also used for authentication. However, these also have disadvantages like use of radioactive isotopes, high cost and absolute requirement of sequence information. Therefore, it is a better option to improve the reproducibility of RAPD by converting RAPD amplicons into Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) markers. SCAR markers are easy, reliable and reproducible thus, have an advantage over RAPD markers for authentication of medicinal herbs used in the preparation of traditional medicines. These markers however, have been developed for only a few medicinal herbs. This review is an attempt to evaluate critically the role of SCAR markers in authentication of medicinal herbs used in traditional formulations.