Feeding 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan during the transition from pregnancy to lactation increases calcium mobilization from bone in rats

An increasing demand for calcium during pregnancy and lactation can result in both clinical and subclinical hypocalcemia during the early lactation period in several mammalian species, in particular the dairy cow. Serotonin (5-HT) was recently identified as a regulator of lactation and bone turnover. The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplementation of the maternal diet with a 5-HT precursor would increase maternal bone turnover and calcium mobilization to maintain appropriate circulating maternal concentrations of ionized calcium during lactation. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30) were fed either a control diet (n = 15) or a diet supplemented with the 5-HT precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 0.2%; n = 15) from day 13 of pregnancy through day 9 of lactation. Maternal serum and plasma (day 1 and day 9 of lactation), milk and pup weight (daily), mammary gland and bone tissue (day 9 of lactation) were collected for analysis. The 5-HTP diet elevated circulating maternal concentrations of 5-HT on day 1 and day 9 of lactation and parathyroid hormone related-protein (PTHrP) on day 9 of lactation (P < 0.033). In addition, 5-HTP supplementation increased total serum calcium concentrations on day 1 of lactation and total milk calcium concentration on day 9 of lactation (P < 0.032). Supplemental 5-HTP did not alter milk yield, maternal body weight, mammary gland structure, or pup litter weights (P > 0.05). Supplemental 5-HTP also resulted in increased concentrations of mammary 5-HT and PTHrP, as well as increased mRNA expression of rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylase 1, and Pthrp mRNA on day 9 of lactation (P < 0.028). In addition, supplementation of 5-HTP resulted in increased mRNA expression of maternal mammary calcium transporters and resorption of bone in the femur, indicated by increase osteoclast number and diameter as well as mRNA expression of classical markers of bone resorption on day 9 of lactation (P < 0.048). These results show that increasing 5-HT biosynthesis during the transition from pregnancy to lactation could be a potential therapeutic target to explore for prevention of subclinical and clinical hypocalcemia.     

Bayesian estimation of variance partition coefficients adjusted for imperfect test sensitivity and specificity

The variance partition coefficient (VPC) measures the clustering of infection/disease among individuals with a specific covariate pattern. Covariate-pattern-specific VPCs provide insight to the groups of individuals that exhibit great heterogeneity and should be targeted for intervention. VPCs should be taken into consideration when planning study designs, modeling data and estimating sample sizes. We present a Bayesian discrete mixed model for the estimation of covariate-pattern-specific VPCs when measurement of the infection/disease is based on an imperfect test. The utility of the presented model is demonstrated with three applications. In all cases, imperfect tests biased VPC estimates towards the null but corrected estimates could be obtained by modeling the sensitivity and specificity of the test procedure with beta distributions. The comparison of adjusted VPCs between the intercept only and the fitted models with higher level covariates explained the portion of heterogeneity in the data that was accounted for by the covariates.     

In vitro dose–response of carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde and interaction of combinations for the antimicrobial activity against the pig gut flora

In vitro simulations of the gastric and small intestinal fermentation with varying doses of carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde and binary combinations thereof were carried out to calculate dose–response equations for the antimicrobial effect against the main pig gut flora components. Interaction effects were evaluated following the isobole method. In gastric simulations eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde showed clearly less inhibitory activity towards lactobacilli than carvacrol and thymol, which could also be observed in the small intestinal simulations. The minimum concentration for carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in small intestinal simulations to reduce the number of total anaerobic bacteria compared to control with a probability of 99.7% was 255, 258, 223 and 56 mg/l respectively. This strong activity of trans-cinnamaldehyde was due to its effect against coliform bacteria; a dose of 104 mg/l gave a reduction of 1 log CFU/ml vs. 371, 400 and 565 mg/l for carvacrol, thymol and eugenol respectively. Few combinations demonstrated synergism; most mixtures showed zero interaction or antagonism. Only carvacrol + thymol was slightly synergistic.     

Prepuce and partial penile amputation for treatment of preputial gland neoplasia in two ferrets

Preputial tumours in ferrets are frequently malignant and therefore warrant prompt investigation. As many cases do not respond favourably to surgery, even in combination with radiation therapy, wide surgical resection has been recommended. Such a procedure may necessitate partial or total penile resection but outcomes have thus far not been well described. The current case series describes two ferrets in which surgical resection, including penile amputation, was performed using 10 and 5 mm margins, respectively. In the first case, no recurrence of preputial gland adenocarcinoma was noted for 32 months postsurgery, whereas multiple attempts at surgery and radiation therapy were unsuccessful in the second. These cases suggest that margins of at least 1 cm may help achieve a better outcome. Penile amputation for the treatment of preputial tumours appears to be well tolerated by ferrets, as demonstrated by these cases.     

IgE responses to bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 11 after immunization with inactivated BTV and challenge infection

To test the hypothesis that development of a BTV-specific IgE response plays a role in clinical disease manifestation, the humoral immune response of cattle to inactivated and virulent BTV was studied. Three calves received three sensitizing immunizations of inactivated BTV, 3 weeks apart. The BTV-sensitized animals, two non-sensitized BTV-seropositive and 4 BTV-seronegative control cattle. were challenge-exposed with BTV-11, UC8 strain. All cattle inoculated with inactivated BTV developed group-specific non-neutralizing and serotype-specific neutralizing antibodies. The development of post-challenge-exposure neutralizing antibody titers was inversely correlated with protective immunity. None of the BTV-challenged animals showed clinical disease. The levels of IgE were greatest in the sensitized calves after virus challenge in comparison with control groups. The sequential development, specificity and intensity of virus protein-specific humoral responses were evaluated using immunostaining. After challenge exposure of BTV-sensitized and non-sensitized cattle, total and IgE antibodies reacted consistently within BTV structural proteins VP2, VP5 and VP7. Although no correlation was found between clinical disease and IgE, results add support to the hypothesis that IgE may be involved in the pathogenesis of clinical disease, since infection with BTV causes an increase in serum IgE levels. However, these results suggest that the levels of virus-specific reactivity may be an important factor in determining whether or not clinical disease manifestation occurs.     

Oral chromium picolinate and control of glycemia in insulin-treated diabetic dogs

Chromium is an essential dietary trace mineral involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Chromium is required for cellular uptake of glucose, and chromium deficiency causes insulin resistance. Chromium supplementation may improve insulin sensitivity and has been used as adjunct treatment of diabetes mellitus in humans. In this study, 13 dogs with naturally acquired diabetes mellitus were treated with insulin for 3 months, then with insulin and chromium picolinate for 3 months. Dogs weighing <15 kg (33 lb: n = 9) were administered 200 microg of chromium picolinate PO once daily for I month, then 200 microg of chromium picolinate twice daily for 2 months. Dogs weighing >15 kg (n = 4) received 200 microg of chromium picolinate once daily for 2 weeks, then 200 microg twice daily for 2 weeks, then 400 microg twice daily for 2 months. Type of insulin, frequency of insulin administration, and diet were kept constant, and insulin dosage was adjusted, as needed, to maintain optimal control of glycemia. Mean body weight, daily insulin dosage, daily caloric intake, 10-hour mean blood glucose concentration, blood glycated hemoglobin concentration, and serum fructosamine concentration were not markedly different when dogs were treated with insulin and chromium picolinate, compared with insulin alone. Adverse effects were not identified with chromium picolinate administration. Results of this study suggest that, at a dosage range of 20-60 microg/kg/d, chromium picolinate caused no beneficial or harmful effects in insulin-treated diabetic dogs.     

Effects of vegetable oil supplementation on feed intake,rumen fermentation,growth performance,and carcass characteristic of growing swamp buffaloes

Fifteen, one year old swamp buffalo males with average liveweight of 200.5 ± 9.5 kg were randomly assigned according to a completely randomized design to receive three dietary treatments of supplemental vegetable oils in concentrate contained 140, 750, and 16 g of crude protein, total digestible nutrient, and ether extract, respectively (T1 = unsupplemented, T2 = supplemental coconut oil and sunflower oil in ratio 50:50 at 6% of concentrate, and T3 = supplemental sunflower oil at 6% of concentrate) during a 5-month feeding trial. Urea-treated rice straw was offered ad libitum and concentrate was supplemented at 150 g/kg BW. The results revealed that supplementation of vegetable oils decreased dry matter intake in sunflower oil supplemented group. Combination of coconut oil and sunflower oil supplementation resulted in similar average daily gain as those found in control and in sunflower oil supplemented groups. Rumen microorganism population, ammonia–nitrogen, blood urea–nitrogen and total volatile fatty acid concentrations were decreased as vegetable oils were supplemented. Oil supplementation slightly reduced growth rate, hot carcass percentage, loin eye area particularly on sunflower oil supplemented group. Based on these findings, vegetable oil resulted in decreased performance of swamp buffaloes although the combination of coconut oil and sunflower oil could reduce negative effect of unsaturated oil supplementation. However, further analyses of conjugated fatty acids (CLA) in meat could offer useful information in determining pronounced effects of vegetable oil supplementation.