Pyogenic bacterial infections in humans with MyD88 deficiency

MyD88 is a key downstream adapter for most Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1Rs). MyD88 deficiency in mice leads to susceptibility to a broad range of pathogens in experimental settings of infection. We describe a distinct situation in a natural setting of human infection. Nine children with autosomal recessive MyD88 deficiency suffered from life-threatening, often recurrent pyogenic bacterial infections, including invasive pneumococcal disease. However, these patients were otherwise healthy, with normal resistance to other microbes. Their clinical status improved with age, but not due to any cellular leakiness in MyD88 deficiency. The MyD88-dependent TLRs and IL-1Rs are therefore essential for protective immunity to a small number of pyogenic bacteria, but redundant for host defense to most natural infections.     

Authentication of the botanical origin of honey by near-infrared spectroscopy

Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) was evaluated for the authentication of eight unifloral and polyfloral honey types (n = 364 samples) previously classified using traditional methods such as chemical, pollen, and sensory analysis. Chemometric evaluation of the spectra was carried out by applying principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. The corresponding error rates were calculated according to Bayes' theorem. NIR spectroscopy enabled a reliable discrimination of acacia, chestnut, and fir honeydew honey from the other unifloral and polyfloral honey types studied. The error rates ranged from <0.1 to 6.3% depending on the honey type. NIR proved also to be useful for the classification of blossom and honeydew honeys. The results demonstrate that near-infrared spectrometry is a valuable, rapid, and nondestructive tool for the authentication of the above-mentioned honeys, but not for all varieties studied.     

Adherence of Streptococcus suis capsular type 2 to porcine lung sections.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the ability of 33 Streptococcus suis capsular type 2 isolates to adhere to frozen sections of porcine lung. Twenty isolates originated from diseased pigs and 13 from the nasal cavities of clinically healthy pigs. All isolates from diseased animals adhered to lung sections; isolates from pneumonia adhered, in general, in greater numbers than isolates from meningitis. Only four isolates from clinically healthy animals showed a weak adherence to lung sections. Hydrophobic surface properties were also evaluated. All isolates tested appeared to possess a hydrophilic cell surface. The thickness of the capsular material correlated well with the degree of adherence. However, when the adherence capacity of a noncapsulated mutant was compared with that of the parent strain, it was found that the mutant strain had at least the same adherence capacity as the capsulated parent strain. The data suggest that S. suis capsular type 2 isolates involved in pathological conditions can adhere to porcine lung tissue. The adherence activity does not seem to involve hydrophobic interactions. The amount of capsular material seems to influence the adherence activity, but is probably not the only mechanism involved.     

Effects of Microbial Phytase Supplementation and Dosage on Apparent Digestibility Coefficients of Nutrients and Dry Matter in Soybean Product-Based Diets for Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of microbial phytase (Ronozyme P(L) and dosage on apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, amino acids, and minerals in soybean product-based diets for rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. In experiments 1 and 2, fish were fed soy protein concentrate and soybean meal-based semi-purified diets, respectively. In experiment 3, fish were fed soybean meal-based practical diets. A total of 900 fish (average body weight 100.1 ± 7.4 g) were stocked into 30 150-L fiberglass tanks with 30 fish per tank and two tanks per diet. Phytase was supplemented into soybean product-based diets at 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 FTU/kg diet. Yttrium oxide (0.01%) was used as inert marker. Feces were collected by hand stripping three times at 3-d intervals. Results of experiments 1 and 2 showed that phytase supplementation significantly increased apparent digestibility coefficients of minerals (except copper and iron), but not dry matter. Experiment 3 showed that phytase supplementation significantly increased apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, amino acids (except tryptophan and tyrosine), and minerals (except copper and iron). The optimum level of phytase supplementation in rainbow trout diets was approximately 500 FTU/kg diet.     

Dominance variation across six herbicides of the Arabidopsis thaliana csr1-1 and csr1-2 resistance alleles

Dominance of a resistance trait can be defined as a measure of the relative position of the phenotype of the heterozygote RS compared with the phenotype of the two corresponding homozygotes, SS and RR. This parameter has been shown to have primary importance in the dynamics of pesticide resistance evolution. Literature on insecticide resistance suggests that dominance levels in the presence of insecticide vary greatly from completely recessive to completely dominant. With insecticides, both the chemical applied and the dosages used have been demonstrated to affect the dominance. By contrast, almost all herbicide resistances have been found to be inherited as partially to totally dominant traits. This discrepancy between weeds and insects may partly result from the methodologies applied to measure the dominance, ie a single dose for herbicide versus several doses for insecticide. Using two well-known resistances (csr1-1 and csr1-2) to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors in Arabidopsis thaliana (L) Heynh (mouse-ear cress), we used several herbicide doses to determine the dominance level to six ALS-inhibiting herbicides. The dominance level in the presence of herbicide varied from completely dominant to completely recessive, depending on the resistance allele and the herbicide tested. The dominance of the csr1-1 and csr1-2 resistance alleles ranged from 0 (completely recessive) to 1.1 (dominant) and from 0 to 0.3 (partially dominant), respectively. The recessivity of some resistance alleles in the presence of herbicide could lead to the development of improved resistance management in order to delay or avoid herbicide resistance evolution, especially in the control of outcrossing weed species.     

Suboccipital craniectomy, dorsal laminectomy of C1, durotomy and dural graft placement as a treatment for syringohydromyelia with cerebellar tonsil herniation in Cavalier King Charles spaniels

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively the efficacy of the suboccipital craniectomy and dorsal laminectomy of C1 with durotomy and placement of a dural graft for treatment of syringohydromyelia (SHM) because of cerebellar tonsil herniation in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS). This technique is used with great success in human medicine. STUDY DESIGN: Four CKCS diagnosed by Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of SHM because of cerebellar tonsil herniation and not responsive to medical therapy underwent a suboccipital craniectomy and dorsal laminectomy of C1 (2 dogs) and of C1 and partial C2 (2 dogs) with durotomy and placement of a dural graft. Three dogs were evaluated neurologically 24 hours, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively and evaluations were compared with preoperative neurological examination. Repeat MRI took place 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Neurological examinations showed neither improvement nor progression of clinical signs 3 months postoperatively. MRI showed no regression of syrinx size 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Improvement was not seen. Given the progressive nature of the disorder, evaluation over a longer period of time is necessary to detect if progression has stopped. Some modification to the surgical technique is needed to accomplish the same results as in human medicine. A study of a larger population is needed to attain more reliable information. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Suboccipital craniectomy and dorsal laminectomy of C1 with durotomy and placement of a dural graft is a feasible technique in CKCS, but needs some modification to accomplish the same results as in human medicine.     

Use Of Traction During Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of Caudal Cervical Spondylomyelopathy ("Wobbler Syndrome") In The Dog

Cervical spondylomyelopathy or "wobbler syndrome" is a well-defined disorder of large-breed dogs, characterized by a compressive lesion affecting the cervical spinal cord that in many dogs may have a dynamic component. Determination of whether this dynamic component is present is important in the decision-making process as regards therapeutic intervention. Despite a significant risk of neurologic deterioration following myelography in some large dogs affected by wobbler syndrome, myelography is considered an essential part of the assessment, primarily as it allows assessment of whether a dynamic compression exists. This same neurologic deterioration is not apparent following magnetic resonance (MR) imaging; however, the use of MR imaging in the investigation of wobbler syndrome has thus far been limited by the inability to perform the traction studies required to ascertain whether a dynamic component to the spinal cord compression exists. This paper presents a technique of applying traction during MR imaging of the cervical spine to reduce a dynamic wobbler syndrome lesion.     

Biogeochemical cycles of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations: Main features shown by intensive monitoring in Congo and Brazil

The sustainability of fast-growing tropical Eucalyptus plantations is of concern in a context of rising fertilizer costs, since large amounts of nutrients are removed with biomass every 6–7 years from highly weathered soils. A better understanding of the dynamics of tree requirements is required to match fertilization regimes to the availability of each nutrient in the soil. The nutrition of Eucalyptus plantations has been intensively investigated and many studies have focused on specific fluxes in the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients. However, studies dealing with complete cycles are scarce for the Tropics. The objective of this paper was to compare these cycles for Eucalyptus plantations in Congo and Brazil, with contrasting climates, soil properties, and management practices.The main features were similar in the two situations. Most nutrient fluxes were driven by crown establishment the two first years after planting and total biomass production thereafter. These forests were characterized by huge nutrient requirements: 155, 10, 52, 55 and 23 kg ha^?1 of N, P, K, Ca and Mg the first year after planting at the Brazilian study site, respectively. High growth rates the first months after planting were essential to take advantage of the large amounts of nutrients released into the soil solutions by organic matter mineralization after harvesting. This study highlighted the predominant role of biological and biochemical cycles over the geochemical cycle of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations and indicated the prime importance of carefully managing organic matter in these soils. Limited nutrient losses through deep drainage after clear-cutting in the sandy soils of the two study sites showed the remarkable efficiency of Eucalyptus trees in keeping limited nutrient pools within the ecosystem, even after major disturbances. Nutrient input–output budgets suggested that Eucalyptus plantations take advantage of soil fertility inherited from previous land uses and that long-term sustainability will require an increase in the inputs of certain nutrients.