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Inflammatory breast cancer ( IBC) is an aggressive type of cancer with poor survival in women. Inflammatory mammary cancer ( IMC) in dogs is very similar to human IBC and it has been proposed as a good surrogate model for study the human disease. The aim was to determine if IPC-366 shared characteristics with the IBC cell line SUM149. The comparison was conducted in terms of ability to grow (adherent and nonadherent conditions), stem cell markers expression using flow cytometry, protein production using western blot and tumorigenic capacity. Our results revealed that both are capable of forming long-term mammospheres with a grape-like morphology. Adherent and nonadherent cultures exhibited fast growth in vivo. Stem cell markers expressions showed that IPC-366 and SUM149 in adherent and nonadherent conditions has mesenchymal-like characteristics, E-cadherin and N-cadherin, was higher in adherent than in nonadherent cultures. Therefore, this study determines that both cell lines are similar and IPC-366 is a good model for the human and canine disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural operations can pose a threat to the quality of nearby water sources particularly from nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses following land application of manure. Biochar application to soils has the potential to ameliorate degraded soils and reduce nutrient leaching to groundwater. The effects of amending sand soil columns with hybrid poplar biochar (Populus spp.) made by a slow-pyrolysis process at 450°C at varying rates (0, 1, 2, and 5% by weight) with repeated dairy manure applications over a 56-wk period was examined to evaluate the impact to leachate water quality. Increasing levels of biochar decreased cumulative levels of total N (TN) by 21 to 59%, nitrate (NO3-N) by 17 to 46%, and ammonia (NH4-N + NH3-N) by 46 to 90% in leachate but increased cumulative leaching of total P (TP). Overall leachate pH was increased and peak levels of 5-d biological oxygen demand (BOD5) in leachate after manure application were decreased with increasing levels of biochar amendment. The results from this study indicate that biochar amendments could be effective in reducing nitrogen leaching from soils, though further study is needed to determine practical application in a field setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium yellows, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. betae (Fob), can lead to significant yield losses in sugar beet. This fungus is variable in pathogenicity, morphology, host range and symptom production, and is not a well characterized pathogen on sugar beet. From 1998 to 2003, 86 isolates of F. oxysporum and 20 other Fusarium species from sugar beet, along with four F. oxysporum isolates from dry bean and five from spinach, were obtained from diseased plants and characterized for pathogenicity to sugar beet. A group of sugar beet Fusarium isolates from different geographic areas (including nonpathogenic and pathogenic F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. proliferatum and F. avenaceum), F. oxysporum from dry bean and spinach, and Fusarium DNA from Europe were chosen for phylogenetic analysis. Sequence data from β- tubulin, EF1α and ITS DNA were used to examine whether Fusarium diversity is related to geographic origin and pathogenicity. Parsimony and Bayesian MCMC analyses of individual and combined datasets revealed no clades based on geographic origin and a single clade consisting exclusively of pathogens. The presence of FOB and nonpathogenic isolates in clades predominately made up of Fusarium species from sugar beet and other hosts indicates that F. oxysporum f. sp. betae is not monophyletic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To discuss the pathophysiology and the current treatment approaches for the dysregulation of glucose metabolism in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Data sources: Selected research, clinical studies, clinical guidelines, and review articles. Conclusions: In HIV infection, multiple factors are associated with the pathogenesis of glucose dysregulation. Studies suggest that protease inhibitors, a class of antiretroviral agent, as well as viral factors, lipodystrophy, hepatitis C infection, injection drug use, and second-generation antipsychotics have been implicated in the development of glucose disorders and diabetes. Current treatment recommendations are based on extrapolated data from non-HIV diabetic patients. More research is needed to establish the most appropriate management for the disorders of glucose metabolism in the context of HIV infection. Implications for practice: If left untreated, patients are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and complications associated with untreated diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to make repetitive non-invasive measurements of gastric emptying of nutritive solids in awake, unstressed mice is highly desirable. The aim of the present study was to develop such a technique using nuclear scintigraphy and diets differing in triglyceride content. Awake mice were accustomed to light restraint and to feeding cooked, egg white (0.00 g fat g−1), whole egg (0.10 g fat g−1), or egg yolk (0.31 g fat g−1). Gastric emptying of each diet was measured by labelling the test meals with Technetium99 m Mebrofenin and using a conventional gamma camera equipped with a high resolution, parallel hole collimator. Gastric emptying of cooked whole egg was also determined following administration of either vehicle or CCK A receptor antagonist, devazepide. The half-emptying time ( t1/2) significantly increased with increasing triglyceride content from 14 ± 5 min to 51 ± 6 min and 82 ± 4 min for egg white, whole egg and egg yolk, respectively. Administration of devazepide significantly decreased t1/2 of whole egg to 28 ± 2 min. These results demonstrate the sensitivity and predictability of this technique in mice and importantly, provide an opportunity to alter the macronutrient or caloric content of the meal to determine effects on gastric emptying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eosinophils contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and localize to the lung after allergen exposure by uncertain mechanisms. Methods: We used intrabronchial instillation of allergen to model the interaction between inhaled allergen and the lung. We measured the number of peripheral blood leukocytes and the expression of VLA-4 (CD49d), Mac-1 (CD11b) and PSGL-1 (CD162) up to 4 h after instillation of allergen into a bronchus of eight atopic asthmatics. For controls, we instilled normal saline into a subset of the asthmatic subjects, and allergen into nonatopic, nonasthmatic subjects. Results: There were changes of total leukocyte number, number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in all three groups (atopic asthmatics instilled with allergen, atopic asthmatics instilled with saline, nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects instilled with allergen), which were likely related to bronchoscopy. However, the decrease of eosinophils was significant only in the atopic asthmatics instilled with allergen. The remaining eosinophils in the allergen challenged asthmatics were not activated as defined by cell density or change of expression of VLA-4, Mac-1 and PSGL-1. Conclusions: While eosinophils rapidly and specifically leave the circulation after allergen challenge of atopic asthmatics, the remaining circulating eosinophils are not activated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plaque formation and caries development were studied in 0-M rats fed Diet 2000 and infected with S. mutans 6715 and fecal flora from older caries-active rats. Merck dextranase, Beckman dextranase or Beckman glucanase 447 were administered singly or in combination to groups of 12 rats either as an addition to the diet or as a "mouthwash" twice daily, 5 d per week. All enzymes studied were associated with significant inhibition of both plaque formation and caries development, especially on the buccal and lingual surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of columbines, Aquilegia caerulea (which lives in alpine environments) and A. canadensis (a lower-elevation species) responded to artificially increased levels of solar UV-B radiation by becoming significantly shorter and developing a significantly greater number of leaves. The degree of shortening was greater in A. canadensis, the non-alpine species, while the number of leaves increased faster in A. caerulea. Significant differences in gas-handling and water-use physiological responses were noted, with UV-B treatment leading to decreased water-use efficiency in both species. Concentrations of flavonoids increased significantly in both species following light exposure, whereas alkaloids in A. caerulea appeared to be destroyed by UV-B. No significant changes occurred β-carotene concentrations in either species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the kinetics of biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in engineered (wastewater treatment) and natural environment systems, focusing on work conducted in our environmental laboratories over the past 10-15 yr. Biodegradation studies were conducted in laboratory microcosms in which pure-chainlength [C]-ring-labeled LAS homologs were used to allow complete mineralization to be assessed. In general, biodegradation rates for a series of LAS homologs (C10-C14) were comparable to each other and to values for naturally occurring materials such as sugars and fatty acids. Half-lives for LAS mineralization ranged from 1-2 d in aerobic and anaerobic sewage sludges, river water and sediments, to 1-3 wk in surface and subsurface soils and estuarine environments. The half-life for LAS degradation in different environmental compartments, relative to its residence time in these compartments, makes biodegradation a practically significant removal mechanism in a broad range of aquatic, benthic and terrestrial habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hour-to-hour emotional states reported by children, ages 9-15, were examined in order to evaluate the hypothesis that the onset of adolescence is associated with increased emotional variability. These youths carried electronic pagers for 1 week and filled out reports on their emotional states in response to signals received at random times. To evaluate possible age-related response sets, a subset of children was asked to use the same scales to rate the emotions shown in drawings of 6 faces. The expected relation between daily emotional variability and age was not found among the boys and was small among the girls. There was, however, a linear relation between age and average mood states, with the older participants reporting more dysphoric average states, especially more mildly negative states. An absence of age difference in the ratings of the faces indicated that this relation could not be attributed to age differences in response set. Thus, these findings provide little support for the hypothesis that the onset of adolescence is associated with increased emotionality but indicate significant alterations in everyday experience associated with this age period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longitudinal cross-sectional time-series study was carried out to determine the prevalence of nasal mycoplasma carriage, serostatus and seroconversion, and to evaluate the associations between these parameters and health and performance in weaned beef calves during a 42-day feeding period. Nasal swabs and serum were collected on days 0 (arrival), 10, 42 and at the first incidence of bovine respiratory disease complex. The samples were evaluated for Mollicutes (by culture), (by PCR) and serum antibody to . On day 0, 90.4 per cent of the calves were Mollicutes nasal culture-positive. The seroprevalence of was 26.6 per cent on day 0 and 98.2 per cent by day 42 (P<0.05). Seroconversion to between days 0 and 42 was significantly associated (P=0.04) with lower weight gain. Weight gain was greater in calves that were PCR-negative for on day 10 (P=0.01) The percentage of calves seropositive to increased throughout the study, indicating exposure and an immunological response to the organism. Although associations with health outcomes were not identified, seroconversion to was associated with a decreased rate of weight gain during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An abstract of the conference paper "Isolated intra-abdominal umbilical vein (IAUV) varix in 163 fetuses: antenatal management and postnatal outcomes," by D. C. Wood and colleagues is presented.