Expression of TGFBR1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3, ACVR1B and ACVR2B is altered in ovaries of cows with cystic ovarian disease

The objective of this study was to examine the expression of transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGFBR)1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3, activin receptor (ACVR)1B and ACVR2B in ovaries of cows with cystic ovarian disease (COD). The expression of the selected receptors was determined by immunohistochemistry in sections of ovaries from cows with ACTH‐induced and spontaneous COD. Expression of TGFBR1 and TGFBR3 was higher in granulosa cells of cysts from cows with spontaneous COD than in tertiary follicles from the control group. Additionally, TGFBR3 expression was higher in granulosa cells of cysts from cows with ACTH‐induced COD than in those from the control group and lower in theca cells of spontaneous and ACTH‐induced cysts than in tertiary control follicles. There were no changes in the expression of TGFBR2. ACVR1B expression was higher in granulosa cells of tertiary follicles of cows with spontaneous COD than in the control group, whereas ACVR2B expression was higher in cysts of the spontaneous COD group than in tertiary follicles from the control group. The alterations here detected, together with the altered expression of the ligands previously reported, indicate alterations in the response of the ligands in the target cells, modifying their actions at cellular level.     

A History of the International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists (ICAHIS) and its Partnership in One Health

This article chronicles the International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists’ (ICAHIS) beginning in 1992 to the present and describes other groups and conferences formed from the international animal health information conference idea. Throughout its history, ICAHIS has been a forum for colleagues worldwide to discuss, share, and promote animal health information access. This article is a brief history of ICAHIS's origins and the movement it fostered. The 7th ICAHIS, the first in the United States, will occur in Boston, May 3–8, 2013. Previous conferences were held on three continents: Europe, Africa, and Australia.     

Micronutrient extraction in calcareous soils treated with humic concentrates

The use of humic concentrates in drip irrigation cultures in Spain has increased recently. Several companies offer different products to the farmers. It is suggested that such products are useful in improving the structure of the substrates, in increasing CEC of soils, in mobilizing micronutrients towards the roots and in acting as biological hormones. In our work, we have studied the effect of 11 different humic concentrates on extraction of iron and other micronutrients in the soil. Two substrates were used, a calcareous soil and a mixed substrate called “soil standard” since it has been made with components similar to those of a soil, but with standard materials. These soils were incubated with 11 different commercial humic concentrates. After the interaction, soils were extracted by the AB‐DTPA method. The results show that, in general, all commercial products increased extraction of micronutrients, but large amounts of humic concentrates were needed to increase them significantly. These quantities were greater than those reached in the bulk soil with the doses proposed by the distributors. However the amounts of humic substances used in this experiment can be reached in microsites near the droppers in a drip irrigation system. Although all humic concentrates increased micronutrients extraction, differences were noted on the efficiency of the different products. Humic rather than fulvic acids were responsible for this increase in extraction.     

Effects of grape cell culture extracts on human topoisomerase II catalytic activity and characterization of active fractions

Grape and its cell culture extracts are rich in flavonoids and stilbenes that are biologically active. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible inhibitory effects of grape (a Vitis hybrid Bailey Alicant A) cell culture extract and subfractions on human DNA topoisomerase II catalytic activity and to characterize constituents in the most potent fractions. At 5 microg/mL, grape cell crude extract and Toyopearl (TP) fractions 2-6 provided significantly greater inhibition of topoisomerase II catalytic activity than quercetin, a chemopreventive agent previously known as a topoisomerase catalytic inhibitor. The most potent topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitors from grape cell culture extracts in descending order of potency were TP fractions 4 and 6 (IC(50) = 0.28-0.29 microg/mL), TP-3 (IC(50) = 0.74 microg/mL), and crude extract (IC(50) = 1.02 microg/mL); each was significantly more potent than resveratrol (IC(50) = 18.0 microg/mL), another well-known chemopreventive topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitor. Using both high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, constituents in TP-4 and TP-6 were characterized. These constituents included cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, malvidin-3-acetylglucoside, peonidin-3-coumaryl-5-diglucoside, procyanidin B(1), procyanidin B(2), procyanidin B(5), procyanidin dimer digallate, procyanidin C(1), myricetin, and rutin, none of which have been previously characterized from grape cell cultures. The significant potency especially of TP-4 and TP-6 from grape cell cultures suggests that these fractions may have potential as chemopreventive agents.     

Solid-phase microextraction in the analysis of virgin olive oil volatile fraction: modifications induced by oxidation and suitable markers of oxidative status

Modifications of virgin olive oil subjected to accelerated storage were evaluated by HS-SPME analysis. To find a suitable marker of oxidative degradation, the volatile compounds showing variable concentration during the oxidative process have been identified and quantified by SPME coupled to GC-MS and GC-FID, respectively. The SPME analysis results were then compared with the parameters usually applied to assess the oxidative status of lipids, such as peroxide value, spectrophotometric absorbance, and loss of unsaturated fatty acids. Finally, the assessment of nonanal has been suggested as a marker of oxidative degradation. This rapid, inexpensive, and reliable method may allow screening of oils prior to testing by a panel of assessors.     

Soil reinforcement by the roots of six dominant species on eroded mountainous marly slopes (Southern Alps,France)

In marly catchments of the French Southern Alps, the development of plant root systems is essential to increase slope stability and mitigate soil erosion, prevalent in this area. In a context of land restoration, it is important to be able to evaluate plant efficiency for soil reinforcement. This paper presents the results of investigations carried out on six dominant species from marly gullies. It aims to compare the additional soil cohesion they provide at the early stages of their development. The six following species were collected: two tree species, Pinus nigra and Quercus pubescens, two shrubby species, Genista cinerea and Thymus serpyllum, and two herbaceous species, Achnatherum calamagrostis and Aphyllantes monspeliensis. For each of them, we measured root tensile strength and root area ratio in order to calculate the potential root reinforcement and to compare species suitability to prevent shallow mass movements. Results showed significant differences between species. The herbaceous species A. monspeliensis and the shrubby species G. cinerea provided the highest increase in soil shear strength while the tree species, P. nigra and Q. pubescens were the least efficient. These results, along with the knowledge on vegetation dynamics and species response to erosive constraint, allow us to better evaluate land vulnerability to erosion and the efficiency of restoration actions in eroded marly lands.