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Retrospectively, 89 cases of dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum were examined. Fifty-nine of these 89 dogs fulfilled the criteria of not being dually infected with Crenosoma vulpis as well as having a full biochemistry profile including serum fructosamine available. The mean serum fructosamine value of the 59 dogs was 236 μmol/l (reference value 258–348 μmol/l) and significantly lower than the serum fructosamine level of 314 μmol/l in a control group of 42 clinically healthy dogs. Eleven dogs were available for follow up after successful treatment of angiostrongylosis. In this group, the serum fructosamine value rose from a mean of 244 μmol/l to a mean of 320 μmol/l following treatment. Serum glucose, albumin and protein were all within the respective reference ranges at all sampling points. The results indicate that serum fructosamine could be affected by infection with A. vasorum. Furthermore, this change cannot be explained by measurable changes in the level of glucose, albumin or protein. The clinical impact of this study is that a low fructosamine value may indicate infection with A. vasorum thereby suggesting a Baermann test to be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT: Activities of 2 membrane-bound enzymes, Ca2+-ATPase from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and cytochrome oxidase from the inner mitochondria membrane, were measured during frozen storage of cod. Enzyme activities were higher in cod muscle samples frozen at −30°C than at −20°C. Freezing-induced activation of both enzymes was observed and the activation was amplified by ice storage prior to freezing. Sensory evaluation conducted at 9 mo of frozen storage showed differences between the sensory properties of cod frozen immediately after catch and frozen after 3 d of storage on ice. These results indicated that the enzymes might be useful as indicators of quality changes by frozen storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichen myxedematosus is a rare, chronic, progressive disease of unknown etiology characterized histologically by mucin deposition in the upper one half of the dermis and is in many cases associated with a serum paraprotein. We report the third case of lichen myxedematosus which has been treated with oral cyclophosphamide. Our case, as one of those previously treated, lacked the characteristic paraprotein. Therapeutic response consisted of improvement, but not complete resolution of the skin findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four methods of selecting PNR (probability non-replacement) samples are described and their properties examined. The four are based on a common theme and provide samples wherein P; (the probability the ith element is included in a sample) is proportional to the size of the element. The four methods differ primarily in the degree of control that is exercised over P[sub ij] (the probability that elements i and j are both in the sample.) In methods 1 and 2 the sampler has considerable control over the combination of elements that comprise each possible sample. Method 3 is completely objective, the samples being generated by a weighted system of randomizations. Method 4 as presented requires an iterative solution to achieve the desired control over the P[sub ij]. Method 4 as presented is limited to samples of size n = 2, the others can accept any n provided nA[sub i] (where A[sub i] is the relative size of element i) does not exceed one. The efficiency of methods 3 and 4 are compared with selected PNR methods in the literature and appear to perform reasonably well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a correction of the article 'Persistence of Plasmodium falciparum in the Placenta After Apparently Effective Quindine/Clindamycin Therapy' published in the 2001 issue of the journal 'Journal of Perinatology.'

Fast surveillance strategies are needed to control the spread of new emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and gain time for evaluation of their pathogenic potential. This was essential for the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) that replaced the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating worldwide. RT-qPCR strategies complement whole genome sequencing, especially in resource lean countries, but mutations in the targeting primer and probe sequences of new emerging variants can lead to a failure of the existing RT-qPCRs. Here, we introduced an RT-qPCR platform for detecting the Delta- and the Omicron variant simultaneously using a degenerate probe targeting the key ΔH69/V70 mutation in the spike protein. By inclusion of the L452R mutation into the RT-qPCR platform, we could detect not only the Delta and the Omicron variants, but also the Omicron sub-lineages BA.1, BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5. The RT-qPCR platform was validated in small- and large-scale. It can easily be incorporated for continued monitoring of Omicron sub-lineages, and offers a fast adaption strategy of existing RT-qPCRs to detect new emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants using degenerate probes., Competing Interests: The authors have declardd that no competing interest exist.

Scope: The scope of the present study was to investigate the effects of red versus white meat intake on the metabolome of rats., Methods and Results: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 15 days of ad libitum feeding of one of four experimental diets: (i) lean chicken, (ii) chicken with lard, (iii) lean beef, and (iv) beef with lard. Urine, feces, plasma, and colon tissue samples were analyzed using 1 H NMR-based metabolomics and real-time PCR was performed on colon tissue to examine the expression of specific genes. Urinary excretion of acetate and anserine was higher after chicken intake, while carnosine, fumarate, and trimethylamine N-oxide excretion were higher after beef intake. In colon tissue, higher choline levels and lower lipid levels were found after intake of chicken compared to beef. Expression of the apc gene was higher in response to the lean chicken and beef with lard diets. Correlation analysis revealed that intestinal apc gene expression was correlated with fecal lactate content (R 2 = 0.65)., Conclusion: This study is the first to identify specific differences in the metabolome related to the intake of red and white meat. These differences may reflect perturbations in endogenous metabolism that can be linked to the proposed harmful effects associated with intake of red meat., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPLT4) protein is involved in lipid metabolism and is known to inhibit lipoprotein lipase in the bloodstream. We investigated the effect of milk on intestinal ANGPTL4 and the metabolic profile of growing pigs and the effect of free fatty acids (FFAs) on ANGPTL4 in ex vivo and in vitro assays. Feeding pigs whole milk increased intestinal ANGPTL4 mRNA and increased fecal excretion of long-chain FFA compared to the control group fed soybean oil (n = 9). Furthermore, FFAs (C4-C8) induced ANGPTL4 gene expression in porcine intestinal tissue mounted in Ussing chambers and ANGPTL4 protein secretion to both the apical and basolateral sides of intestinal Caco-2 cells on permeable membranes. Altogether, these results support an ANGPTL4-induced secretion of fecal FFAs. Urinary levels of FFAs (C4-C12), 3-hydroxyadipic acid, and suberic acid were also increased by milk consumption, indicating higher energy expenditure compared to the control group.

To investigate mechanisms and phenotypic effects of insertional mutagenesis by gammaretroviruses, we have developed mouse lines containing a single Akv 1-99 long terminal repeat (LTR) and a floxed PGK/Tn5 neomycin cassette at the Nras proto-oncogene at positions previously identified as viral integration sites in Akv 1-99 induced tumors. The insert did not compromise the embryonic development, however, the cassette had an effect on Nras expression in all tissues analyzed. Cre-mediated excision of the PGK/Tn5 neomycin cassette in two of the lines caused upregulation of Nras. Altogether, the knock-in alleles are characterized by modulation of expression of the target gene from more than ten-fold upregulation to three-fold downregulation and exemplify various mechanisms of deregulation by insertional mutagenesis. LTR knock-in mice may serve as a tool to investigate mechanisms of retroviral insertional mutagenesis and as a way of constitutive or induced modulation of expression of a target gene.

A combination of social withdrawal and increased aggression is characteristic of several mental disorders. Most previous studies have investigated the neurochemical bases of social behavior and aggression independently, as opposed to how these behaviors are regulated in concert. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) produces gaseous nitric oxide, which functions as a neurotransmitter and is known to affect several types of behavior including mating and aggression. Compared with wild-type mice, we observed that nNOS knockout mice showed reduced behavioral responses to an intruder behind a wire barrier. Similar results were observed in mice treated with the selective nNOS inhibitor 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (3BrN). In habituation-dishabituation tests, treatment with 3BrN did not block recognition of male urine but did attenuate investigation time compared with oil-treated animals. Finally, nNOS knockout mice and 3BrN treated mice were significantly more aggressive than wild-type and oil-treated males, respectively. In general, these behavioral effects are less pronounced in pair-housed males compared with singly-housed males. Thus, nNOS inhibition results in a phenotype that displays reduced social investigation and increased aggression. These data suggest that further study of nNOS signaling is warranted in mental disorders characterized by social withdrawal and increased aggression., ((c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)

Retrospectively, 89 cases of dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum were examined. Fifty-nine of these 89 dogs fulfilled the criteria of not being dually infected with Crenosoma vulpis as well as having a full biochemistry profile including serum fructosamine available. The mean serum fructosamine value of the 59 dogs was 236 micromol/l (reference value 258-348 micromol/l) and significantly lower than the serum fructosamine level of 314 micromol/l in a control group of 42 clinically healthy dogs. Eleven dogs were available for follow up after successful treatment of angiostrongylosis. In this group, the serum fructosamine value rose from a mean of 244 micromol/l to a mean of 320 micromol/l following treatment. Serum glucose, albumin and protein were all within the respective reference ranges at all sampling points. The results indicate that serum fructosamine could be affected by infection with A. vasorum. Furthermore, this change cannot be explained by measurable changes in the level of glucose, albumin or protein. The clinical impact of this study is that a low fructosamine value may indicate infection with A. vasorum thereby suggesting a Baermann test to be performed.

Nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) transcription factors play a central role in differentiation, activation, and elimination of lymphocytes. We here report on the finding of provirus integration into the Nfatc3 locus in T-cell lymphomas induced by the murine lymphomagenic retrovirus SL3-3 and show that NFATc3 expression is repressed in these lymphomas. The provirus insertions are positioned close to the Nfatc3 promoter or a putative polyadenylated RNA (polyA) region. Furthermore, we demonstrate that NFATc3-deficient mice infected with SL3-3 develop T-cell lymphomas faster and with higher frequencies than wild-type mice or NFATc2-deficient mice. These results identify NFATc3 as a tumor suppressor for the development of murine T-cell lymphomas induced by the retrovirus SL3-3.

North American paragonimiasis is well described in omnivorous and carnivorous animals on this continent. Humans are rarely infected, largely because of dietary customs, but are at risk for infection if raw or undercooked crayfish are consumed. We describe a patient with a pleuropulmonary infection due to Paragonimus kellicotti that presented as recurrent pneumothoraces and a cavitary lesion. This is the first case of North American paragonimiasis in which the diagnosis was based on the morphology of the eggs present in histologic sections.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of topical versus retrobulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery performed by a surgeon newly converting to the topical technique., Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA., Methods: Ninety patients were prospectively assigned by permuted block restricted randomization to receive topical (Group 1; n = 45) or retrobulbar (Group 2; n = 45) anesthesia. Group 1 received topical bupivacaine 0.75% and intravenous midazolam and fentanyl for anesthesia. Group 2 received intravenous methohexital followed by retrobulbar block with an equal mixture of lidocaine 2% and bupivacaine 0.75% plus hyaluronidase 150 units. A visual pain analog scale was used to assess the degree of pain during anesthesia administration and surgery and postoperatively. The degree to which eye movement, touch, and light caused patient discomfort was assessed. Intraoperative conditions and complications were recorded., Results: Intraoperative operating conditions were significantly better in Group 2 (P < .05). There was a small but statistically significant difference in the degree of discomfort during anesthesia administration and surgery (P < .05). There was no difference in postoperative discomfort. Chemosis, subconjunctival hemorrhage, and eyelid hemorrhage occurred only in Group 2, in which there was one retrobulbar hemorrhage. Although eyelid squeezing and ocular motility were present more frequently in Group 1, neither was a problem to the surgeon., Conclusion: Cataract surgery was safely performed by a surgeon converting to topical anesthesia. After a distinct learning curve, the procedure was performed with minimal patient discomfort. Surgical training and patient preparation are the key to safe use of topical anesthesia.

Background: The etiology of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common form of glomerulonephritis in the world, remains an enigma. Episodes of nephritis are frequently preceded by acute viral respiratory syndromes, but few experimental models associated with acute viral infection exist., Experimental Design: An animal model of IgAN involving Sendai virus, a rodent parainfluenza virus similar to many human respiratory viruses, is described. Mice were either naturally infected or chronically mucosally immunized with virus. Immunized mice were then challenged intravenously with various physical forms of antigen to simulate viremia or antigenemia secondary to acute viral exposure. Twenty-four hours after challenge of immunized mice or 10 days after natural infection, mice were sacrificed. Anti-viral antibody titers, glomerular immune deposits, and glomerular function were evaluated., Results: Chronic mucosal immunization of mice with Sendai virus resulted in a vigorous serum IgA (and IgG) anti-viral immune response, associated with comparable degrees of IgA, IgG, IgM, and antigen deposits in the glomeruli of both challenged and unchallenged mice. Only immunized, challenged mice developed significant proteinuria and hematuria. Neither deposits nor glomerular dysfunction was seen in controls. The physical form of antigen was important for altered glomerular function; although immunized mice challenged with either live or dead virions had a high incidence of hematuria, mice challenged with purified viral glycoproteins did not, even though all mice exhibited comparable immune deposits. Significant deposits of C3 were not present and were not required for glomerular injury. Finally, naturally infected mice exhibited a milder form of IgAN without hematuria., Conclusions: The experimental conditions for acute exposure to a natural viral respiratory pathogen of mice leading to IgAN are described. This model may be useful both to probe infection-related IgAN, and to facilitate the understanding of the various mechanisms responsible for IgAN.