Survival of hypoxic human mesenchymal stem cells is enhanced by a positive feedback loop involving miR-210 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1

The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has emerged as a potential new treatment for myocardial infarction. However, the poor viability of MSCs after transplantation critically limits the efficacy of this new strategy. The expression of microRNA-210 (miR-210) is induced by hypoxia and is important for cell survival under hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia increases the levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) protein and miR-210 in human MSCs (hMSCs). miR-210 positively regulates HIF-1α activity. Furthermore, miR-210 expression is also induced by hypoxia through the regulation of HIF-1α. To investigate the effect of miR-210 on hMSC survival under hypoxic conditions, survival rates along with signaling related to cell survival were evaluated in hMSCs over-expressing miR-210 or ones that lacked HIF-1α expression. Elevated miR-210 expression increased survival rates along with Akt and ERK activity in hMSCs with hypoxia. These data demonstrated that a positive feedback loop involving miR-210 and HIF-1α was important for MSC survival under hypoxic conditions.     

Amino acid substitutions in gyrA and parC associated with quinolone resistance in nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella isolates

This study was undertaken to identify and characterize amino acid substitutions in gyrA and parC related with quinolone resistance of 27 nalidixic acid-resistant (Na^R) Salmonella isolates collected in poultry slaughterhouses in Korea. A total of 51 Salmonella isolates were detected from 44.8% (47/105) of the total samples from 15 poultry slaughterhouses examined, among which 27 (52.9%) Na^R isolates were detected while ciprofloxacin (Cip) resistance was not present in the isolates. These 27 Na^R isolates of DNA sequencing revealed that it contained three types of gyrA mutations in only D87 codon. Mutations in the D87 codon resulted in substitutions to G in most of the isolates, but D87Y and D87N exchanges were also detected. Although Cip resistance was absent, reduced susceptibility characterized by mutations in gyrA was apparent among Salmonella isolates from poultry slaughterhouses in Korea.     

Antiviral effect of dietary germanium biotite supplementation in pigs experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Germanium biotite (GB) is an aluminosilicate mineral containing 36 ppm germanium. The present study was conducted to better understand the effects of GB on immune responses in a mouse model, and to demonstrate the clearance effects of this mineral against Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in experimentally infected pigs as an initial step towards the development of a feed supplement that would promote immune activity and help prevent diseases. In the mouse model, dietary supplementation with GB enhanced concanavalin A (ConA)-induced lymphocyte proliferation and increased the percentage of CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes. In pigs experimentally infected with PRRSV, viral titers in lungs and lymphoid tissues from the GB-fed group were significantly decreased compared to those of the control group 12 days post-infection. Corresponding histopathological analyses demonstrated that GB-fed pigs displayed less severe pathological changes associated with PRRSV infection compared to the control group, indicating that GB promotes PRRSV clearance. These antiviral effects in pigs may be related to the ability of GB to increase CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte production observed in the mice. Hence, this mineral may be an effective feed supplement for increasing immune activity and preventing disease.     

Comparison of the trotting gaits of Labrador Retrievers and Greyhounds

OBJECTIVE: To compare the trotting gaits of Labrador Retrievers and Greyhounds to determine whether differences in locomotion are attributable to differences in their manner of moving or to body size and shape differences between these 2 breeds. ANIMALS: 8 healthy 5-month-old Greyhounds and 5 healthy Labrador Retrievers between 6 and 18 months old. PROCEDURE: A series of 4 force platforms was used to record independent ground reaction forces on the forelimbs and hind limbs during trotting. Values of stride parameters were compared between breeds before and after normalization for size differences. Standard values of absolute and normalized stride period and stride length were determined from linear regressions of these parameters on relative (normalized) velocity. Forces were normalized to body weight and compared at the same relative velocity. RESULTS: Greyhounds used fewer, longer strides than the Labrador Retrievers to travel at the same absolute speed. After normalization for body size differences, most measurable differences between breeds were eliminated. Subtle differences that did persist related to proportion of the stride that the forefoot was in contact with the ground, timing of initial hind foot contact relative to initial forefoot contact, and distribution of vertical force between the forelimbs and hind limbs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that apparent differences in the trotting gait between Labrador Retrievers and Greyhounds are mainly attributable to differences in size, and that dogs of these 2 breeds move in a dynamically similar manner at the trot.     

Virtopsy in a red kangaroo with oral osteomyelitis

This report describes the use of computed tomography (CT) in a nondomestic species. Postmortem CT was performed on a red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and a diagnosis of oral osteomyelitis was made. CT examination revealed bony remodeling of the right mandible, an intraosseous lesion of the right temporal bone, muscle necrosis around the right mandible, and the absence of the right, first, upper molar tooth. Cardiac and intrahepatic gas and a distended intestine due to postmortem gas accumulation were also seen. All the lesions identified with CT were also identified by conventional necropsy, except the cardiac and intrahepatic gases. Virtopsy may be a useful procedure for the noninvasive identification of cause of death and as a guide for necropsy in animals.     

Effect of intravenous mannitol upon the resistive index in complete unilateral renal obstruction in dogs

Some studies have shown that relative to baseline, the renal resistive index (RI) remains unchanged in nonobstructed kidneys and increases in obstructed kidneys after administration of furosemide. To our knowledge, the effect of mannitol administration on the renal RI of dogs has not been reported. We evaluated the renal RI in 16 kidneys in 8 young adult dogs after administration of mannitol. The mean RI decreased significantly from baseline (P < .01). Additionally, left complete ureteral obstruction wasinduced in 5 dogs. Evaluation by Doppler ultrasonography was performed for 5 days. On the 5th day, Doppler examination was repeated at 30 and 60 minutes after administration of mannitol to obstructed dogs. After induction of left ureteral obstruction, the RI of the left kidney increased significantly over 5 consecutive days. Administration of mannitol decreased the RI in the nonobstructed contralateral kidneys, and thus the RI difference between obstructed and nonobstructed kidneys was increased above normal (P < .001). In conclusion, administration of mannitol may be useful as another diuretic agent to identify unilateral ureteral obstruction on Doppler sonographic examination.     

Parameter estimates for direct and maternal genetic effects on yearling, eighteen-month, and slaughter weights of Korean native cattle

Data collected by the National Livestock Research Institute of the Rural Development Administration of Korea were used to estimate genetic parameters for yearling (YWT, n = 5,848), 18-mo (W18, n = 4,585), and slaughter (SWT, n = 2,279) weights for Korean Native cattle. Nine animal models were used to obtain REML estimates of genetic parameters: DP-2 included genetic, uncorrelated dam, and residual random effects; DQ-2 included genetic, sire x region x year-season interaction, and residual random effects; DPQ-2 was based on DQ-2 but included both interaction and dam effects; DMP-2 was based on DP-2 but with dam effect partitioned to include maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects; and DMPQ-2 was based on DMP-2 but also included sire interaction effects. Those five models included two fixed factors: region x year-season and age of dam x sex effects. Models DP-3, DQ-3, DPQ-3, and DMPQ-3 were based on DP-2, DQ-2, DPQ-2, and DMPQ-2 but included as a third fixed factor whether or not identification of the sire was known. Estimates of heritability with DMPQ-3 for YWT, with DPQ-3 for W18 and SWT when analyzed with single-trait analyses were .14, .11, and .17, respectively, and were nearly the same with bivariate analyses. Estimate of maternal heritability for YWT from single-trait analysis was .04, with estimates for other traits near zero. For bivariate analyses, the estimate for YWT was .01. With single trait analysis, estimate of the direct-maternal genetic correlation for YWT was negative (-.81). Estimates of direct genetic correlations between YWT and W18, YWT and SWT, and W18 and SWT were .99, 1.00, and .97, respectively. Estimates of environmental correlations varied from .60 to .81; the largest was between W18 and SWT. Including a fixed factor for whether sire identification was missing or not missing reduced the estimate of heritability for slaughter weight. The results suggest that the sire x region x year-season interaction is important for yearling weight and may be needed in a model for slaughter weight. Maternal effects may be of slight importance for yearling weight but of no importance for W18 and SWT. Models for national cattle evaluations for Korean Native cattle for YWT should be considered that include maternal genetic and permanent environmental as well as sire x region x year-season interaction effects, but those effects seem not to be needed for models for W18 and SWT. Not much reranking of sires occurred when ranked was based on the different models for W18 and SWT.     

The Epidemiology and Characteristics of Q fever and Co‐infections with Scrub Typhus,Murine Typhus or Leptospirosis in Taiwan: A Nationwide Database Study

Q fever (QF) is a worldwide zoonosis associated with outbreaks. Only a few nationwide studies regarding the surveillance and epidemiology of human QF have been reported. Although QF is endemic in Taiwan, a nationwide database investigation of the epidemiology and characteristics of QF and its associations with scrub typhus (ST), murine typhus (MT) and leptospirosis (LS) has never been reported. We analysed nationwide databases of suspected QF, ST, MT and LS cases from October 2007 to December 2014 obtained from the Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan. A total of 468 (4.2%) QF cases were identified among 11 109 suspected QF cases. QF cases were mainly distributed in the southern and Kaohsiung–Pingtung regions but rarely in the eastern region. Compared to non‐QF cases, QF cases had significantly higher percentages of males (88.7 versus 66.2%) and high‐risk occupations (farming, animal husbandry or veterinary medicine) (16.2 versus 10.5%). But the percentages of specific animal contact, including cattle (0.6 versus 0.8%) and goats (0.9 versus 1.0%), were low in both. The majority of suspected QF cases (89.4%) were simultaneously suspected with ST, MT or LS, and the combinations of suspected diseases differed between regions. The number of suspected QF cases from the eastern region decreased since 2009, which was not observed in other regions. A total of 1420 (12.8%) cases had confirmed diseases, including QF (453, 4.1%), QF+ST (7, 0.06%), QF+MT (4, 0.04%), QF+LS (4, 0.04%), MT (186, 1.7%), ST (545, 4.9%), ST+LS (11, 0.1%) and LS (210, 1.9%). Compared to cases of unknown disease, QF cases had larger percentages of high‐risk occupations (16.2 versus 9.6%) but similar histories of animal contact (29.8 versus 25.1%). QF is an endemic disease in southern Taiwan. It is difficult to differentiate QF from ST, MT or LS only by high‐risk occupations and history of animal contact, and co‐infection of QF with these diseases should be considered.