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Dietary protein allowances comprise the upper limits of the range of individual metabolic demands adjusted for digestibility and biological value. The maintenance demand includes well defined obligatory and less understood adaptive components. Demands for growth, pregnancy, and lactation are well understood, although factorial models of protein requirements assume low efficiency of dietary protein utilization and may overestimate dietary allowances for children, pregnant, and lactating women. The amino acid profile of the maintenance component is poorly defined but contains fewer indispensable amino acids than that for growth (the tissue protein pattern). Thus protein quality is less important for humans than growing animals.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a cytoprotective redox-active metabolite that signals through protein persulfidation (R-SSnH). Despite the known importance of persulfidation, tissue-specific persulfidome profiles and their associated functions are not well characterized, specifically under conditions and interventions known to modulate H2S production. We hypothesize that dietary restriction (DR), which increases lifespan and can boost H2S production, expands tissue-specific persulfidomes. Here, we find protein persulfidation enriched in liver, kidney, muscle, and brain but decreased in heart of young and aged male mice under two forms of DR, with DR promoting persulfidation in numerous metabolic and aging-related pathways. Mice lacking cystathionine γ-lyase (CGL) have overall decreased tissue protein persulfidation numbers and fail to functionally augment persulfidomes in response to DR, predominantly in kidney, muscle, and brain. Here, we define tissue- and CGL-dependent persulfidomes and how diet transforms their makeup, underscoring the breadth for DR and H2S to impact biological processes and organismal health., Dietary restriction (DR) can increase protein persulfidation but the tissue specificity of this process is not well understood. Here, the authors compare organ-specific protein persulfidomes in young and aged mice under DR, and show that DR-dependent persulfidome changes depend on cystathionine γ-lyase.

The present investigation was designed to study the effect of sublethal concentration of paper mill effluent on the total protein and amino acid contents in muscles, liver and gill of Channa punctatus after exposure to 96 hours. A significant decrease in protein content with increase in amino acids content in muscles, liver and gill of effluent exposed fishes was observed. A reduction in the protein content and enhancement of free amino acids in the muscles, liver and gill of experimental fish suggests that the tissue protein might have undergone proteolysis, during the stressful situation. Thus, the present study concludes that the protein metabolism of fish Channa punctatus affected during effluent exposure and reduces the nutritive value of fish.

Finding an effective monitoring and evaluation factor for therapeutic effect of microwave ablation is becoming a research focus. Previous MWA experiments on in vitro porcine liver found that reduced scattering coefficient ( μ's ) is an efficient optical evaluation parameter. Results indicated that μ's of normal tissue and coagulation tissue is 3-5 cm-1 and 17-19 cm-1, respectively, and μ's is highly related to the degree of thermal damage. This paper aims to validate if these results from in vitro porcine liver also applies to real tumor. Two sets of experiments were carried out with human liver tumor specimens. In the first experimental set, the tumor specimen was heated by water bath at constant temperature of 80 ℃ for 5 minutes, and μ's was obtained before and after the heating process. In the second set, another tumor specimen was heated by MWA with microwave power of 10 W for 5 min, reduced scattering coefficient and temperature changes were measured during ablation. In the first experiment, μ's value was 4.10 cm-1 before heating and increased to 17.16 cm- 1 after complete tissue protein coagulation. In the second experiment, μ's grew exponentially first and eventually stabilized. μ's values are consistent with previous experiments on in vitro porcine liver. These results also validates that the μ's values reflect the degree of thermal damage, and be captured in real-time. To sum up, μ's is an effective real-time thermal damage monitoring and evaluation factor that can be applied to real tumors.

Free radicals generated in a variety of biological systems have been implicated in mechanisms of aging and age-related pathologies. This study strategically revealed the varying levels of carbonylated proteins in 3 different tissues of 40 wistar rats of varying ages. Their ages include 25-30, 45-50 and 65-70 days. The brain, heart and kidney tissue homogenates were prepared and biochemically analyzed for products of protein oxidation using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones and autoantibodies against carbonylated proteins. This study revealed a direct proportional relationship between age and protein carbonylation in brain, heart and kidney tissue homogenates. The level of carbonylated proteins were significantly (P≤0.05) increased in the assayed tissues as all test groups advanced in age. Oxidative modification of proteins in brain and kidney tissues showed similar trend. This age-related biochemical manifestation may be as a result of increased generation of free radicals at mitochondrial level or decreased anti-oxidant defenses as living organisms advance in age.

Background. Increased activity of aldose reductase (AR) is one of the mechanisms involved in the development of diabetic complications. Inhibiting AR can be a target to prevent diabetes complications. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of cyclohexane (CH) and ethanol extracts (ET) of walnut leaves on AR activity in the lens and testis of diabetic rats. Methods. Fifty-six male rats classified into seven groups as control and treatment groups and treated for 30 days. The treatment groups were treated with different concentrations of ET and CH. The diabetic control (DC) group was exposed to streptozotocin. AR activity was measured in the lens and testis. The expression of AR in the testis was evaluated by the immunohistochemistry method. Results. Both extracts significantly reduced the AR activity (ng/mg of tissue protein) in the testis (0.034±0.004, 0.038±0.010, and 0.040±0.007 in the treatment groups vs. 0.075±0.007 in the DC group) and lens (1.66±0.09, 2.70±0.47, and 1.77±0.20 in the treatment groups vs. 6.29±0.48 in the DC group) of the treatment group compared to those of the DC group (P<0.05). AR expression in the testes of the treatment groups was decreased compared with that of the DC group (P<0.0001). Conclusion. Walnut leaf extracts can reduce the activity and localization of AR in the testes and its activity in the lens of diabetic rats.

Novel Bi0.15Fe0.15TiO2 nanocomposites (B0.15F0.15TNs) were synthesized for the first time by a modified sol–gel technology and successfully applied to selective extraction and enrichment of phosphopeptides from digested protein mixture solutions and real samples (tissue protein extract from human liver). The codoping of Bi and Fe into TiO2 results in a significant enhancement in both the enrichment efficiency and selectivity. Compared with the commercial available TiO2 extractant, the proposed B0.15F0.15TNs possess a lower detection limit (2 × 10–9 M) and higher selectivity at a low weight ratio of 1:1200 (phosphopeptides/nonphosphopeptides). Additionally, a total of 223 phosphorylation sites were identified from the human liver lysate after enrichment by the B0.15F0.15TNs. In addition, the synthesis of B0.15F0.15TNs is quite easy, of high yield, and inexpensive.

Tissue response to metallic contact and injury remains poorly understood at the level of proteins and lipid changes. We used corneas as a model system (bovine, porcine [n = 300 each], and human corneas [n = 6]) to characterize proteomic and lipidomic reactions to metallic exposure (impaction with iron). We also made a limited investigation into protein extractability and profile changes due to copper, and lead exposure as well. We identified selected proteins after trypsin digestion using an LCQ Deca XP and lipids using a TSQ Quantum Access Max mass spectrometer, respectively. Our findings indicate that iron impaction to corneal tissue results in cleavage of 1-phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase beta-2 variant (PLCB2; 134 kDa) into a 36 kDa species and presence of the epithelial layer is necessary for this cleavage. Penetration of the cornea with other metals (copper and lead) resulted in lower protein extractability from corneal tissue compared with controls but not distinct changes in PLCB2. The changes in protein profiles were unique to the type of metal used for impaction. The depth of injury negatively affected protein extractability and profile compared with controls. These changes were also dependent on several other factors in a complex manner. Iron impaction of corneal tissue for 24 hours results in cleavage of PLCB2 commensurate with significant changes in phosphatidylinositols but not phosphatidylcholines or other phospholipids.

Confocal scanning microscopy is widely used in the biological sciences—from tissue protein expression to the study of fossil amber inclusions. However, it is rarely used in insect taxonomy despite its unique feature for the examination of structural detail in small samples. In this study, we use confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to image certain poorly studied male secondary sexual organs, namely androconial scales, in a group of riodinid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). This group shows cryptic and mimetic morphology, so pheromones are thought to play an important role in mate choice. We found significant interspecific structural differences in androconial patches. The use of CLSM provides a simple, nondestructive and highly effective method to examine complex morphological characters, which could be applied to other structures and taxa across Lepidoptera and other insects.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and tissue protein level of keratin-8/18 and the occurrence and progression of vocal leukoplakia. Methods: The case-control study enrolled 158 patients with vocal leukoplakia, 326 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and 268 healthy controls, which were tested for genotype analysis with keratin-8 and keratin-18 gene polymorphisms using pyrosequencing. The tissue protein expression levels of keratin-8 and keratin-18 were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Results: The keratin-8 SNP RS1907671 showed an obvious increased risk for vocal leukoplakia (OR 1.56, p = 0.002), while the other SNPs (RS2035875, RS2035878, RS4300473) were tested as protective factors for vocal leukoplakia and LSCC (OR p < 0.05). In keratin-18 SNP test, both RS2070876 and RS2638526 polymorphisms demonstrated decreased risks for vocal leukoplakia and LSCC (OR p < 0.05). The protein levels of keratin-8 and keratin-18 in vocal leukoplakia group were significantly higher than those of the LSCC group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Keratin-8 and keratin-18 polymorphisms and protein levels are associated with the occurrence and progression of vocal leukoplakia.

The study investigated the effect of different levels of dietary Ca, non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) and phytase on the nutrient utilization of broiler chickens. A total of 576 day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were offered diets containing 3 concentrations of Ca (6, 8 or 10 g/kg diet), 2 concentrations of NPP (3 or 4 g/kg) and 2 concentrations of exogenous microbial phytase (0 or 500 FTU/kg). Diets with high Ca (10 g/kg) reduced (p

The present study was carried out to investigate the impact of various concentrations of SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2 NP) on the commonly available freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus. The 96 h median lethal concentration (LC50) of SiO2 NP was found to be between 270-280 ppm. This novel study has demonstrated histological alterations in the hepatic tissues and a dose-dependent depletion of tissue protein content and an elevated transaminases activity in the treated fish, which has facilitated understanding of the impact of SiO2 NP in O. mossambicus.

Activation of inflammasomes in peritoneal macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) leads to the release of eicosanoids. To assess the amount of eicosanoids released by IEC, lipids need to be isolated from whole tissue previous to analysis by lipid mass spectrometry or ELISA. This protocol describes how to isolate lipids from intestinal tissue for analysis by PGE2-ELISA and normalize to tissue protein content.

Unintended effects of drugs can be caused by various mechanisms. Conventional analysis of unintended effects has focused on the target proteins of drugs. However, an interaction with off-target tissues of a drug might be one of the unintended effect-related mechanisms. We propose two processes to predict a drug's unintended effects by off-target tissue effects: 1) identification of a drug's off-target tissue and; 2) tissue protein – symptom relation identification (tissue protein – symptom matrix). Using this method, we predicted that 1,177 (10.7%) side-effects were related to off-target tissue effects in 11,041 known side-effects. Off-target tissues and unintended effects of successful repositioning drugs were also predicted. The effectiveness of relations of the proposed tissue protein – symptom matrix were evaluated by using the literature mining method. We predicted unintended effects of drugs as well as those effect-related off-target tissues. By using our prediction, we are able to reduce drug side-effects on off-target tissues and provide a chance to identify new indications of drugs of interest.

Possible interactions between the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol and lipopolysaccharides on in vivo protein synthesis were investigated in selected porcine tissues. A total of 36 male castrated pigs (initial weight of 26 kg) were used. 24 pigs were fed a control diet and 12 a Fusarium-contaminated diet (chronic oral deoxynivalenol, 3.1 mg/kg diet) for 37 days. Tissue protein synthesis was measured in pigs fed control diet after intravenous infusion of deoxynivalenol (100 µg/kg live weight/h), lipopolysaccharides (7.5 µg/kg live weight/h) or a combination of both compounds on the day of the measurements, while six pigs from the chronic oral deoxynivalenol group were intravenously treated with lipopolysaccharides (7.5 µg/kg live weight/h). Deoxynivalenol challenge alone failed to alter protein synthesis parameters. Fractional protein synthesis rates were exclusively reduced in liver, spleen and small intestine of lipopolysaccharides-treated pigs. Intravenous deoxynivalenol co-exposure enhanced the impacts of lipopolysaccharides on protein synthesis parameters in the spleen and the small intestine to some extent, while a chronic oral pre-exposure with deoxynivalenol relieved its effects in the spleen. Whether these interactions occur in other tissues and under other study conditions, especially toxin doses and route of entry into the body, needs to be examined further.

Background: High-throughput evaluation of tissue biomarkers in oncology has been greatly accelerated by the widespread use of tissue microarrays (TMAs) and immunohistochemistry. Although TMAs have the potential to facilitate protein expression profiling on a scale to rival experiments of tumour transcriptomes, the bottleneck and imprecision of manually scoring TMAs has impeded progress. Methods: We report image analysis algorithms adapted from astronomy for the precise automated analysis of IHC in all subcellular compartments. The power of this technique is demonstrated using over 2000 breast tumours and comparing quantitative automated scores against manual assessment by pathologists. Results: All continuous automated scores showed good correlation with their corresponding ordinal manual scores. For oestrogen receptor (ER), the correlation was 0.82, P

Knowledge of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is important for identifying the functions of proteins and the processes they are involved in. Although data of human PPIs are easily accessible through several public databases, these databases do not specify the human tissues in which these PPIs take place. The TissueNet database of human tissue PPIs (http://netbio.bgu.ac.il/tissuenet/) associates each interaction with human tissues that express both pair mates. This was achieved by integrating current data of experimentally detected PPIs with extensive data of gene and protein expression across 16 main human tissues. Users can query TissueNet using a protein and retrieve its PPI partners per tissue, or using a PPI and retrieve the tissues expressing both pair mates. The graphical representation of the output highlights tissue-specific and tissue-wide PPIs. Thus, TissueNet provides a unique platform for assessing the roles of human proteins and their interactions across tissues.

β-endorphin was recently found in normal human ovaries. The aim of this study was to detect production of β-endorphin by polycystic ovaries and to compare its quantity in these ovaries to that in normal ovaries. Sections obtained from polycystic ovaries were stained with a specific anti-β-endorphin antibody and the avidin-biotin detection technique. Immunostainable cells were detected in polycystic ovaries. Extraction of 5 polycystic and 5 normal ovarian tissues was performed and their β-endorphin content was assayed by a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay method. Polycystic ovaries contained 6.36±2.35 pg β-endorphin/mg tissue protein while normal ovaries contained 5.35 ± 3.78 pg β-endorphin/mg tissue protein. These findings indicate that β-endorphin is produced by polycystic ovaries. The significance of this finding is discussed.

There is a growing interest of pharmaceutical companies for plant-based production systems. To facilitate the general acceptance of plants as bioreactors, the establishment of efficient downstream operations is critical. It has been proposed that a better understanding of the properties of the contaminant proteins can benefit downstream processing design and operation. The coupled application of 2-DE with aqueous two-phase partitioning has been suggested as a practical 3-D method to characterize potential contaminant proteins from plant extracts. The application of this novel 3-D approach to a complex protein extract from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) containing a model recombinant protein (human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (hG-CSF)) resulted in the quantification of 55 protein spots. The 3-D properties (M(r), pI, and K(p)) obtained for 17 proteins comprising 69% of the alfalfa proteins, allowed the proposal of a prefractionation step as well as the identification of the target molecule (rG-CSF) from bulk of alfalfa proteins. The information obtained from this experimental approach was useful for the identification of the potential contaminant proteins that will occur in alfalfa when this plant is used as a host for recombinant proteins. Additionally, this method will assist in the design of adequate purification strategies for recombinant proteins expressed in alfalfa green tissue.

Five iso-energetic (15.05 MJ kg−1) semi-purified diets with graded levels of crude protein, i.e. 200 (D-1), 250 (D-2), 300 (D-3), 350 (D-4) and 400 (D-5) g kg−1 diet were fed to Puntius gonionotus fingerlings (average weight 0.88 ± 0.03 g) in triplicate groups (15 healthy fish per replicate) for a period of 90 days to determine the optimum protein requirement of the fish. Fifteen flow-through cement tanks of 100-L capacity with a flow rate of 0.5 L min−1 were used for rearing the fish. Specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion (food gain) ratio (FCR), nutrient digestibility and retention, digestive enzyme activity, RNA : DNA ratio and tissue composition were used as response parameters with respect to dietary protein levels and feed intake. The mean weight gains of fish after 90 days were 10.84 ± 0.27, 11.07 ± 0.12, 14.09 ± 0.20, 11.27 ± 0.12 and 10.91 ± 0.25 g for D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4 and D-5, respectively. Maximum SGR (3.13 ± 0.02% per day), RNA : DNA ratio (10.09 ± 0.09), tissue protein content (160 ± 0.1 g kg−1 wet weight), protease activity (25.27 ± 0.47 μg of leucine liberated mg tissue per protein h−1 at 37 °C) and minimum FCR (1.60 ± 0.02) was found in D-3 group fed with 300 g kg−1 protein level. All these parameters were negatively affected with the further increase in protein level in the diet. Digestibility of protein, lipid and energy was not affected because of variation in dietary protein levels and nitrogen intake of fish. Maximum energy retention (27.68 ± 0.12%) was recorded at 300 g kg−1 dietary crude protein fed group. However, using broken line regression analysis, the maximum growth was found to be at 317.7 g kg−1 dietary protein. Hence, it may be concluded that the protein requirement of P. gonionotus fingerling is 317.7 g kg−1 diet with a resultant P/E ratio of 21.1 g protein MJ−1.

The influences of metal contamination, fish size, season, and region on tissue metaboliccapacitiesandproteinconcentrationswereexaminedinyellowperchfrom two metal gradients (Sudbury, Ontario, and Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada) in twoseasons(springandsummer).Ingeneral,increasedtissueCuandCdcontamina- tion was associated with lower aerobic capacities, suggesting direct metal inhibition of aerobic enzymes. However, our data also revealed that tissue Ni contamination positively affected aerobic capacities, possibly due to oxidative damage to mitochon- drial membranes leading to compensatory increases in the activity of mitochondrial enzymes. Tissue aerobic capacities decreased, but anaerobic capacities increased, with size. Tissue protein concentrations and metabolic capacities were also influ- enced by season. A novel finding of this study is that size-corrected tissue enzyme activities can differ markedly in yellow perch sampled in the same season in similar lakes, but separated by a few hundred kilometers. Overall, the results from this large dataset support that tissue metabolic capacities are under seasonal and regional influences, but are also affected by metal contamination. Our study indicates that tissue metabolic enzyme activities should be considered as a tool for ecological risk assessment studies aiming at detecting metal stress in wild fish. However, fish should be sampled over a short period, and reference sites should be close to contaminated sites.

This chapter introduces the processing technology of peanut protein. It starts by discussing peanut protein powder processing technology, followed by peanut tissue protein and peanut protein isolates processing technology, and then the processing technology of peanut protein concentrates. This chapter also describes the protein technology of peanut protein isolates, peanut protein components preparation technology, and peanut protein films preparation technology. Finally, the modification technology of peanut protein and peanut protein production line equipment and other relevant equipment are elucidated.

Undernutrition has been associated with gut mucosal atrophy, impaired absorption, and increased permeability. This study investigated the effect of severe undernutrition and subsequent refeeding on gastric and duodenal mucosal protein fractional syntheses (MPFS).MPFS was investigated in the gastric body, antrum, and duodenum of 23 severely undernourished patients by means of (14)C-leucine incorporation into tissue protein and repeated after a period of refeeding. Results were evaluated in comparison with a group of 22 healthy controls and presented as mean +/- standard error of the mean.The mean body index of the undernourished patients was 13.29 +/- 0.33 kg/m(2) versus 22.67 +/- 0.63 kg/m(2) in the controls (P0.001). MPFS in the controls and undernourished patients were similar (gastric body, 36.49 +/- 2.88 versus 33.41 +/- 3.08%/d; gastric antrum, 25.51 +/- 2.20 versus 24.95 +/- 2.32%/d; duodenum, 25.90 +/- 2.58 versus 25.49 +/- 1.99%/d). After refeeding, the body mass index of the undernourished patients increased to 15.87 +/- 0.44 kg/m(2) (P0.001). The MPFS increased significantly (gastric body, 51.80 +/- 8.12%/d, P0.05; gastric antrum, 33.44 +/- 3.66%/d, P0.05; duodenum, 46.27 +/- 8.02%/d, P0.01), with the MPFS of the duodenum significantly greater than the control values (P = 0.01).Despite severe undernutrition, MPFS of the gastric body, antrum, and duodenum remained similar to control values. Enteral feeding resulted in a significant increase in MPFS, indicating a trophic response.

In mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), on-tissue proteolytic digestion is performed to access larger protein species and to assign protein identities through matching the detected peaks with those obtained by LC-MS/MS analyses of tissue extracts. The on-tissue proteolytic digestion also allows the analysis of proteins from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. For these reasons, on-tissue digestion-based MSI is frequently used in clinical investigations, for example, to determine changes in protein content and distribution associated with a disease. In this work, we sought to investigate the completeness and uniformity of the digestion in on-tissue digestion MSI. On the basis of an extensive experiment investigating three groups with varying incubation times: (i) 1.5 h, (ii) 3 h, and (iii) 18 h, we have found that longer incubation times improve the repeatability of the analyses. Furthermore, we discovered morphology-associated differences in the completeness of the proteolysis for short incubation times. These results support the notion that a more complete proteolysis allows better quantitation.

Early prediction of breast cancer is important for effective treatment and survival. We developed an effective Cost-Sensitive Classifier with GentleBoost Ensemble (Can-CSC-GBE) for the classification of breast cancer using protein amino acid features. In this work, first, discriminant information of the protein sequences related to breast tissue is extracted. Then, the physicochemical properties hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of amino acids are employed to generate molecule descriptors in different feature spaces. For comparison, we obtained results by combining Cost-Sensitive learning with conventional ensemble of AdaBoostM1 and Bagging. The proposed Can-CSC-GBE system has effectively reduced the misclassification costs and thereby improved the overall classification performance. Our novel approach has highlighted promising results as compared to the state-of-the-art ensemble approaches.

The effects of freezing and thawing (F-T) and refrigerated storage (R-S) on pork liver were examined. Intact cells were isolated from the tissue and analyzed for membrane integrity and the tissue extracts were analyzed for protein content. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were noted in the number of isolated intact cells and in tissue protein content between F-T and R-S or fresh livers. Differences in cell membrane integrity were also noted between fresh and R-S livers. Repeated freezing and thawing appears to break down the liver structure differently than does refrigerated storage.

Technologies that generate information about the genome are being used to explore changes in gene expression and related proteins following exposure to chemicals. Conceptually, this information allows a greater understanding of genomic level mRNA expression (transcriptomics), cell and tissue protein expression (proteomics) and information about metabolite profiles (metabonomics). Having a greater understanding of this information alongside, empirical toxicological reference data provide for the continued evolution in our ability to understand toxicological modes of action, thereby providing a more scientific basis for extrapolation of toxicological information from animals to humans. Toxicogenomics also provides specific opportunities for improvements at different stages of the risk assessment process such as the development of new predictive models for identifying human health hazards and the identification of more precise molecular biomarkers of exposure. One possibility is that molecular fingerprinting in vivo or in vitro can be used to categorize chemicals and mixtures of chemicals into different mode of action groups. As there is indication that molecular signals differ at dose levels, it is hoped that toxicogenomic information can also contribute to the understanding and interpretation of effects seen with low dose exposure. Several gene polymorphisms have already been identified which play a role in the differing intra-species response to chemicals thus providing explanation for the observed differences in effects. It is therefore likely that a better understanding of genomic expression will enable a greater insight into the factors behind the observed variability in susceptibility to chemical exposure that can be seen in human populations.

Reports of immune reactions of both the immediate and delayed types due to cutaneous or systemic exposure to copper have been reviewed, in the endeavor to draw a comprehensive profile of the immunogenic potential of that metal and its compounds. The metal's immunotoxic potential is also briefly reviewed. In principle, as noted for other transition metals, the electropositive copper ion is potentially immunogenic due to its ability to diffuse through biological membranes to form complexes in contact with tissue protein. Based on predictive guinea pig test and the local lymph node assay (LLNA), copper has a low sensitization potential. Reports of immune reactions to copper include immunologic contact urticaria (ICU), allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), systemic allergic reactions (SAR) and contact stomatitis (STO), but considering the widespread use of copper IUDs and the importance of copper in coinage, items of personal adornment and industry, unambiguous reports of sensitization to the metal are extremely rare, and even fewer are the cases, which appear clinically relevant. Reports of immune reactions to copper mainly describe systemic exposure from intrauterine devices and prosthetic materials in dentistry, implicitly excluding induction of the hypersensitivity from contact with the skin as a risk factor. We provide a diagnostic algorithm that might clarify the frequency of copper hypersensitivity.

Data from 30 studies with 173 treatment mean observations of lactating goats were used to determine metabolizable protein (MP) requirements for lactation (MPl). Milk protein yield (MkP) was calculated from milk yield and protein concentration. MP was estimated from dietary ingredient composition and a feedstuff database of CP degradability properties and ruminal fermentable energy concentration. MPl was estimated with a factorial method by subtracting MP used for maintenance, which was the sum of scurf (0.2 g/kg BW0.6), endogenous urinary (1.03 g/kg BW0.75) and metabolic fecal CP losses (2.67% DM intake) divided by an efficiency of use of MP for maintenance of 1.0. Also, MP was adjusted for BW change (14.3% protein), assuming an efficiency of MP use for protein accretion of 0.59 and that mobilized tissue protein was used for lactation with the same efficiency as MP from the diet or microbial cells. The equation for the regression of MPl (g/day) against MkP (g/day) was: MP l =15.2 ( S.E. =7.77)+1.30 ( S.E. =0.090)× MkP (n=163, adjusted -R 2 =0.56) ; the intercept was not different from zero (P>0.05). The slope of a no-intercept equation (regression line forced through the origin) was 1.45 (S.E.=0.033). In conclusion, these results suggest a MPl requirement for goats of 1.45 g/g of MkP or a milk protein efficiency of 0.69. Because of the approach employed, application of this MPl requirement should not include provision of additional MP as a safety factor. With the large number of observations in this database, this requirement estimate should be of value in expressing protein needs and predicting performance of lactating goats, although future research to refine assumptions may improve accuracy.

Objectives:To determine the effects of exercise training on physical condition in 25 college rugby players during a summer training camp, and to compare these variables by the different players’ positions.Methods:Changes in body composition parameters and blood biochemistry were examined before and after a summer training camp.Results:Body weight and percentage body fat did not change significantly during the camp. There were significant decreases in levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, phosphate, uric acid, and immunoglobulin G and M. In contrast, there were significant increases in levels of serum potassium, markers of renal, hepatic, and muscular damage (BUN, GOT, GPT, LDH, CK), and complement C4. Comparison of the changes in biochemical parameters between rugby players playing in different positions showed a significant increase in serum albumin level in the forwards, and significant decreases in serum triglyceride and sodium levels in the backs. The magnitude of change in serum LDH during the camp was significantly greater (pConclusions:These data suggest that, in rugby players attending a 20 day camp, exercise training resulted in muscular damage, loss of electrolytes due to sweating, and changes in immune function. Backs exhibited a higher rate of fat metabolism and loss of electrolytes than forwards, possibly because they did more running during the camp. In contrast, forwards experienced more physical contact, performed more physically strenuous exercise, and exhibited higher levels of muscular damage and tissue protein degradation.

Yaykasli, Kursat/0000-0001-7550-6370; Kandis, Hayati/0000-0001-9151-6050; Kaya, Ertugrul/0000-0003-0081-682X WOS: 000367634100003 PubMed: 26067853 Backround: Erythropoietin (EPO), regulating erythropoiesis, is used to provide protective and regenerative activity in non-haematopoietic tissues. There is insufficient knowledge about the role of EPO activity in tendon healing. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EPO treatment on healing in rat patellar tendons. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six, four-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: 1, no treatment; 2, treatment with isotonic saline (NaCl) and 3, treatment with EPO. Each group was randomly subdivided into two groups for sacrifice at three (1a, 2a, 3a) or six weeks (1b, 2b, 3b). Complete incision of the left patellar tendon from the distal patellar pole was performed. We applied body casts for 20 days after the incised edges of the patellar tendon were brought together with a surgical technique. Both legs were harvested and specimens from each group underwent histological, biomechanical, and protein mRNA expression analyses. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the ultimate breaking force between the EPO group and others at both weeks three and six (p

Background . Cartilage viability of a cryopreserved tracheal allograft seems to affect graft function and durability. We previously reported the influence of warm ischemia and cryopreservation on cartilage viability of tracheal allografts. For the clinical application of tracheal allotransplantation, it is essential to preserve grafts for a long time. In this study, we assessed cartilage viability of tracheal allografts after long-term cryopreservation in transplantation models. Methods . The tracheas were harvested from Lewis rats. The grafts were frozen to −80°C in a programmable freezer immediately after being harvested and were then stored in liquid nitrogen (−196°C) for different lengths of preservation (1, 2, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months; n for each group=8). Cartilage viability was evaluated by estimating proteoglycan synthesis. After harvest or thawing of the tracheas, the cartilage was labeled with 4 μCi/mL of Na 2 35 SO 4 . Specimens were then hydrolyzed in 0.5 mol/L NaOH, and a solution of the extracts was then counted by a liquid scintillation counter. 35 Sulfur incorporation before and after cryopreservation was examined in each group. Tracheal allotransplantation was performed using Lewis rats as donors and Brown Norway rats as recipients. Results . The average 35 S incorporation in the cartilage before cryopreservation was 224 ± 17 disintegrations per minute per milligram of tissue protein. The average 35 S incorporation in the cartilage after cryopreservation decreased to 67% to 76% compared with that before cryopreservation. There were no significant differences among the groups in 35 S incorporations after cryopreservation. Histologic examination after transplantation revealed normal tracheal cartilage in all groups. Conclusions . The viability of tracheal cartilage after cryopreservation decreased to 67% to 76%. There were no significant differences in viability of cartilage among the tracheas after different lengths of cryopreservation. Tracheal allotransplantation after long-term cryopreservation can be safely performed in the rat model.

Nonenzymatic glycosylation contributes to the formation of crosslinks, which leads to the structural and functional deterioration of tissue protein. The accumulation of these crosslinks in tissue proteins has been implicated in the alteration of biomechanical properties of connective tissues. The objective of this study was to determine whether tendon breaking time (TBT) and tendon breaking strength (TBS) of the flexor perforans et perforatus digiti iii tendon were related to concentrations of pentosidine in tendons (Pt) of broiler breeder hens from 8 to 125 wk of age. In addition, effects of diet restriction (DR) and a crosslinking inhibitor, aminoguanidine (AG) on Pt, TBS, and TBT were determined. Female chicks (n = 450) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups immediately after hatch: ad libitum-fed (AL); diet-restricted (DR; 60% of AL); and AL and DR groups supplemented with 1.35 mg/kg BW per day AG in the feed (AL+AG and DR+AG, respectively). In AL hens, Pt increased with increasing age (P < or = 0.0001). Concurrently, an age-related parallel increase was found for TBS (P < or = 0.0001) and TBT (P < or = 0.0001). Rate of Pt accumulation was lower in DR (P < or = 0.001), TBS (P < or = 0.01), and TBT (P < or = 0.02) hens compared with AL hens. Concentration of Pt in the AL + AG group was lower (P < or = 0.0002) than in the AL group; TBS and TBT (P < or = 0.01) followed a similar pattern. Supplementation of DR with AG did not affect Pt, TBS, or TBT. The age-related increase in Pt and loss of elasticity in the tendon was retarded by diet restriction and AG.