Interferon-gamma response of PBMC indicates productive pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection in swine

In Chinese Meishan/German Landrace cross-bred swine F2 generation interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was determined directly ex vivo at different time points after survival of a virulent pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection. This reactivity was compared with the reactivity of na?ve PBMC. Significant IFN-gamma production was determined in ELISA and ELISPOT only after in vitro PBMC re-stimulation with PRV and not with the closely related bovine herpesvirus BHV-1. The PRV-specific IFN-gamma secretion from re-stimulated PBMC showed high levels 6 days after infection, before the presence of serum antibodies, and it persisted at a high level over a 3 months period. The response of a group of eight piglets infected intranasally with PRV varied. Only two animals showed the expected typical fever response. PRV specific IFN-gamma production by PBMC clearly indicated that infection had occurred. Early significant IFN-gamma production by primed PBMC turned out to be a reliable and specific ex vivo marker for cellular response against productive PRV infection in swine before antibody formation.     

Survival of dairy cows after surgery to correct abomasal displacement: 1. Clinical and laboratory parameters and overall survival

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and laboratory consequences of left and right displacement of the abomasum (LDA and RDA), short- and long-term survival after surgery and the findings in cows, that could not be cured by omentopexy. Data from 564 cases of displaced abomasum (466 LDA, 98 RDA) were analysed retrospectively. Clinical and laboratory findings were compared between the two manifestations of DA. Survival was assessed after 10 days and after 15 months. Necropsy was carried out on cows that died or were killed. On arrival at the clinic, left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) cows had been recognized as diseased for longer. LDA occurred earlier in lactation, and more cows with right displacement of the abomasum (RDA) were pregnant. Overall clinical symptoms were more severe in RDA than in LDA cows. Heart rate was higher, body temperature was lower, inanition, abnormal faeces and ruminal stasis were more frequent in RDA cows. Leucocyte counts were higher, and potassium and chloride levels were lower in RDA cows. Acetonuria was more frequent in LDA cows. More LDA than RDA cows were released from the clinic as cured (82.0% versus 74.5%). However, survival after the early post-surgical period was similar for RDA and LDA cows. At necropsy, diseases of the gastrointestinal system were the predominant finding in RDA cows, while in LDA cows, diseases of the liver and other concurrent diseases were more important.     

Quantitative precursor studies on di- and trihydroxybenzene formation during coffee roasting using "in bean" model experiments and stable isotope dilution analysis

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of various raw bean components as precursors of pyrogallol (1), hydroxyhydroquinone (2), catechol (3), 4-ethylcatechol (4), 4-methylcatechol (5), and 3-methylcatechol (6) under quasi "natural" roasting conditions by using the recently developed "in bean" model roast experiments. Freeze-dried, fully extracted bean shells were loaded with aqueous solutions of either single coffee compounds or fractions isolated from the raw bean solubles. After freeze-drying, these reconstituted beans were roasted, aqueous coffee brews were prepared, and the target phenols were quantified by means of a stable isotope dilution assay with LC-MS/MS detection. On the basis of the quantitative data, it can be concluded that upon coffee bean roasting, catechol (3) is primarily formed by degradation of caffeoylquinic acids from both the caffeic acid and the quinic acid moiety of the molecule, as well as from Maillard-type reactions from carbohydrates and amino acids. In contrast, pyrogallol (1) and hydroxyhydroquinone (2) are efficiently generated from carbohydrates and amino acids and, in addition, from free or chlorogenic acid bound quinic acid moieties. 4-Ethylcatechol (4) is exclusively generated upon thermal breakdown of caffeic acid moieties. 3-Methylcatechol (6) is formed primarily from the Maillard reactions and, to a minor extent, also from various phenolic precursors, whereas 4-methylcatechol (5) is produced in trace amounts only from all of the different precursors investigated. On the basis of this precursor study, reaction routes explaining the formation of the target phenols are proposed.     

Application of a molecular sensory science approach to alkalized cocoa (Theobroma cacao): structure determination and sensory activity of nonenzymatically C-glycosylated flavan-3-ols

Application of comparative taste dilution analyses on nonalkalized and alkalized cocoa powder revealed the detection of a velvety, smoothly astringent tasting fraction, which was predominantly present in the alkalized sample. LC-MS/MS analysis, 1D- and 2D-NMR, and CD spectroscopy as well as model alkalization reactions led to the unequivocal identification of the velvety, smoothly astringent molecules as a series of catechin- and epicatechin-C-glycopyranosides. Besides the previously reported (-)-epicatechin-8-C-beta-D-galactopyranoside, additional flavan-3-ol-C-glycosides, namely, (-)-epicatechin-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (-)-catechin-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (-)-catechin-6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (-)-epicatechin-6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (-)-catechin-8-C-beta-D-galactopyranoside, (-)-catechin-6-C-beta-D-galactopyranoside, (-)-catechin-6-C,8-C-beta-D-diglucopyranoside, (-)-epicatechin-6-C,8-C-beta-D-digalactopyranoside, (-)-catechin-6-C,8-C-beta-D-digalactopyranoside, and epicatechin-6-C,8-C-beta-D-diglucopyranoside, were identified for the first time in cocoa. Most surprisingly, these phenol glycoconjugates were demonstrated by model experiments to be formed via a novel nonenzymatic C-glycosylation of flavan-3-ols. Using the recently developed half-tongue test, human recognition thresholds for the astringent and mouth-drying oral sensation were determined to be between 1.1 and 99.5 micro mol/L (water) depending on the sugar and the intramolecular binding position as well as the aglycone.     

Fast variability of tera-electron volt gamma rays from the radio galaxy M87

The detection of fast variations of the tera-electron volt (TeV) (10(12) eV) gamma-ray flux, on time scales of days, from the nearby radio galaxy M87 is reported. These variations are about 10 times as fast as those observed in any other wave band and imply a very compact emission region with a dimension similar to the Schwarzschild radius of the central black hole. We thus can exclude several other sites and processes of the gamma-ray production. The observations confirm that TeV gamma rays are emitted by extragalactic sources other than blazars, where jets are not relativistically beamed toward the observer.