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Hormonal replacement therapy is widely used to treat conditions in humans, the most well-known indication being the relief of menopausal symptoms in women. Many of the hormone-containing products (HCP) are applied to the skin. This transdermal delivery poses a risk to animals and humans through secondary exposure, especially when product information is not strictly followed. The aim of this article is to raise awareness among veterinarians and human healthcare providers of this risk; based on evidence from spontaneous reporting of suspected adverse events (AEs) in animals and humans. Interventions are also explored to mitigate the risk of secondary exposure to transdermal HCP (THCP).The Swedish Medical Products Agency has received several, mainly serious, AE reports in animals and children following secondary exposure to THCPs. The AE reports were reviewed together with worldwide data from the EudraVigilance Veterinary database and human EudraVigilance Data Analysis System. The clinical signs reported in animals included persistent signs of oestrus, poor growth rate and birth defects. In humans, reported clinical signs included precocious puberty, unresolved virilisation, accelerated growth rate and female infertility.It is important that THCP are used according to manufacturer's instructions and users are made aware of risks and mitigating measures. This review of AEs in animals and children provides evidence to show that the use of THCP poses a risk for secondary exposure. Efficient communication strategies that stretch across veterinary and human medicinal disciplines are required to raise mutual awareness and minimise the risk of AEs in animals and humans.

The Medical Products Agency (MPA) has conducted the assessment presented in this manuscript within the remits of a Government assignment to the MPA. No new safety concern, and consequently no need for regulatory action, has been identified in relation to off-label use of rituximab in patients with active MS. While there is plausible pharmacodynamic, early phase clinical trial, and non-interventional data on effectiveness to support the biological effects of rituximab in MS, the magnitude of efficacy in relation to a well-defined population and posology has not been reliably confirmed from a regulatory perspective. From the MPA regulatory perspective, the benefit-risk balance for rituximab in patients with MS is at this stage considered undetermined. The overall recommendation of the MPA is to not create a specific procedure intended for systematically implemented benefit-risk evaluations of medicinal products in unauthorised indications.

Anaerobic digestion of organic materials generates residues of differing chemical composition compared to undigested animal manures, which may affect the soil microbial ecosystem differently when used as fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of two biogas residues (BR-A and BR-B) and cattle slurry (CS) applied at rates corresponding to 70 kg NH 4 + -N ha −1 on bacterial community structure and microbial activity in three soils of different texture (a sandy, a clay and an organic clay soil). 16S rRNA genes were targeted in PCR reactions and bacterial community profiles visualized using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. General microbial activity was measured as basal respiration (B-resp), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), specific growth rate ( μ SIR ), metabolic quotient ( q CO 2 ) and nitrogen mineralization capacity (NMC). Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis visualized shifts in bacterial community structure related to microbial functions. There were significant differences in bacterial community structure after 120 days of incubation (+20 °C at 70% of WHC) between non-amended (control) and amended soils, especially in the sandy soil, where CS caused a more pronounced shift than biogas residues. Terminal-restriction fragment (TRF) 307, the predominant peak in CS-amended sandy soil, was identified as possibly Bacillus or Streptococcus . TRF 226, the dominant peak in organic soil amended with BR-B, was classified as Rhodopseudomonas . B-resp significantly increased and SIR decreased in all amendments to organic soil compared with the control, potentially indicating decreased efficiency of heterotrophic microorganisms to convert organic carbon into microbial biomass. This was also reflected in an elevated q CO 2 in the organic soil. The μ SIR level was higher in the sandy soil amended with BR-A than with BR-B or CS, indicating a shift toward species capable of rapidly utilizing glucose. NMC was significantly elevated in the clay and organic soils amended with BR-A and BR-B and in the sandy soil amended with BR-B and CS. Thus, biogas residues and cattle slurry had different effects on the bacterial community structure and microbial activity in the three soils. However, the effects of biogas residues on microbial activities were comparable in magnitude to those of cattle slurry and the bacterial community structure was less affected. Therefore, we do not see any reason not to recommend using biogas residues as fertilizers based on the results presented.

The growing number of biogas plants in Europe has resulted in increased production of nutrient-rich digestate with great potential as fertilizer for arable land. The nutrient composition of digestate varies with the substrate treated in the biogas plant and may contain compounds that stimulate or inhibit soil microbial activity. This study compared 20 digestates (D) with 10 pig slurries (PS) and 10 cow manures (CM) regarding their chemical content and their effect on soil microbial activities, i.e. potential ammonia oxidation rate (PAO) and soil respiration. The results showed no significant differences within the D group when divided based on substrate type. i.e. manure dominated vs. other organic waste materials in any of the tests. In general D contained significantly higher concentrations of ammonium while the concentrations of total carbon and volatile fatty acids were higher in PS and CM than in D. The D showed both stimulating and inhibiting effects on PAO, while all CM and all PS except one showed inhibiting effects on PAO. However, PAO activity was negatively correlated with the content of volatile fatty acids in the residues indicating that these compounds may be the cause of the inhibition. The maximum respiration activity (h

Both organic and conventional farming processes require energy input in the form of diesel fuel for farming equipment, animal feed, and fertilizer compounds. The most significant difference between the two methods is the use in conventional farming of mineral fertilizers and pesticides that are minimally employed in organic management. It is argued that organic farming is more environmentally friendly, given that synthetic fertilizers mainly used at conventional farms are replaced with animal manure and cover crops. Nutrient uptake by plants is additionally enhanced by the effective use of rhizobia and other types of plant growth-promoting bacteria, in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This article aims to compare the amounts and/or types of energy and nutrients required for both farming systems and provide feasible suggestions for the sustainable use of farm resources in combination with good crop yields.

The kinetics of abiotic oxidation in the dark and the kinetics of biological mineralization in soil and in a compost environment of thermally oxidized LDPE were studied. It was demonstrated that different activation energies are obtained for the thermal oxidation, depending on the composition of the materials. Significantly higher levels of biodegradability have been obtained in a soil environment at 23 � C compared with the compost environment at 58 � C. After two years of mineralization, 91% conversion to carbon dioxide was obtained in the soil test, compared with 43% in the compost test. The differences between fungal, archaeal and bacterial community structures in soil and compost after 607 days of biodegradability assay were mapped out. It was found that the most dominant bacterial and fungal terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) in the compost containing the test material are significantly different from the TRFs in the other environments.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of storage, animal diet, and animal source on the bacterial community composition of manure. The differences among bacterial community structures in fresh manure from cows on two different diets, cow manure stored in a deep pit for about one month, and fresh pig manure were compared. A molecular approach consisting of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), in combination with sequence information from clone libraries, facilitated the identification of specific dominant bacterial populations that varied significantly among manures from different sources and treatments. One such population, represented by TRF 157, the most dominant peak of the bacterial community from stored manure, was identified as a Spirochaeta sp. Interestingly, this peak was absent in the fresh manure communities. The prevailing species in the fresh manure bacterial communities were distinct from those in manure from the storage pit, indicating a major shift in bacterial community composition induced by storage conditions. Moreover, distinct differences in bacterial communities were observed among animal source, but not animal feed. Manure storage is consequently an important parameter to consider when handling fertilizers, in order to obtain an optimal soil microbial ecosystem functioning.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the effects of inoculating winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) of the genusPaenibacillusunder phosphate P-limited soil conditions in the presence or absence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF)Glomus mosseae. FourP. polymyxastrains and oneP. brasilensisstrain were compared at two cell concentrations (106and 108 cells g−1seeds) of inoculation, and surface sterilized AMF spores were added to pots. Mycorrhizal root colonization, plant growth, and plant uptake of phosphorus were analyzed. Bacterial phosphate solubilization was examined separatelyin vitro. MostP. polymyxastrains, isolated from wheat, had dramatic effectsper seon root growth and root P-content. No treatment gave significant effect on shoot growth. AMF root colonization levels and total plant uptake of P were much stimulated by the addition of mostP. polymyxastrains. The AM fungus alone and theP. brasilensis, alone or in combination with the fungus, did not affect total plant P-levels. Our results indicate that practical application of inoculation with plant host-specific rhizobacteria (i.e.,P. polymyxa) could positively influence uptake of phosphorus in P-deficient soils by wheat plants, provided that suitable AM fungi (e.g.,G. mosseae) are present.

Changes in the acetogenic population were investigated in an experimental laboratory-scale biogas reactor (37°C) subjected to gradually elevated ammonia levels (0.8 to 6.9 g NH(4)(+)-N L(-1)). A shift from aceticlastic acetate degradation to syntrophic acetate oxidation had previously been confirmed in this reactor. In a parallel control reactor, operating at constant ammonia levels (0.65-0.90 g NH(4)(+)-N L(-1)), acetate degradation proceeded via the aceticlastic pathway throughout the operating period (660 d). The acetogenic populations in the reactors were analysed using degenerated primers designed to target the functional gene encoding a key enzyme of the acetyl-CoA pathway, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (FTHFS). The analysis consisted of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis coupled with the construction of clone libraries, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. The T-RFLP data obtained were statistically analysed by non-metric multidimensional scaling. The most abundant FTHFS genes recovered in the clone libraries were assigned to terminal restriction fragments of the T-RFLP profile. The results of the investigation clearly indicated that increased ammonia concentration substantially influenced the putative acetogenic population structure and caused two distinct shifts of the most abundant members; however, the identity of the dominating species remains unknown, as none of the genes had been identified previously. Despite the shifts in the population, the qPCR analysis revealed a relatively stable abundance of the acetogenic population throughout the operation.

Several outbreaks caused by pathogenic bacteria are related to the consumption of raw produce contaminated by animal manure. The majority of these outbreaks have been linked to Salmonella spp. We examined the ability of Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden to persist and survive in manure and soil as well as disseminate to, and persist on, spinach roots and leaves. Significantly higher numbers of S. Weltevreden inoculated into manure and applied to soil before planting spinach were found in soil than in pot cultures, where the pathogen had been inoculated directly into soil 14 days postplanting. Moreover, the pathogen seemed to disperse from manure to spinach roots, as we observed a continuous increase in the number of contaminated replicate pot cultures throughout the evaluation period. We also found that, in some cases, S. Weltevreden present in the phyllosphere had the ability to persist for the entire evaluation period (21 days), with only slight reductions in cell numbers. The results from the present study show that S. Weltevreden is capable of persisting in soil, roots and shoots for prolonged periods, indicating the importance of strict monitoring of untreated animal manure before considering its application to agricultural land.

The interactions between two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR, Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 and Paenibacillus brasilensis PB177), two arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) and one pathogenic fungus (Microdochium nivale) were investigated on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum cultivar Tarso) in a greenhouse trial. PB177, but not SBW25, had strong inhibitory effects on M. nivale in dual culture plate assays. The results from the greenhouse experiment show very specific interactions; for example, the two AM fungi react differently when interacting with the same bacteria on plants. Glomus intraradices (single inoculation or together with SBW25) increased plant dry weight on M. nivale-infested plants, suggesting that the pathogenic fungus is counteracted by G. intraradices, but PB177 inhibited this positive effect. This is an example of two completely different reactions between the same AM fungus and two species of bacteria, previously known to enhance plant growth and inhibit pathogens. When searching for plant growth-promoting microorganisms, it is therefore important to test for the most suitable combination of plant, bacteria and fungi in order to achieve satisfactory plant growth benefits.

Methanogenic community structure, methane production (CH 4 ), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles were investigated in Swedish dairy cows fed a diet with a forage/concentrate ratio of 500/500 or 900/100 g/kg of dry matter (DM) of total DM intake (DMI). The rumen methanogenic population was evaluated using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis, 16S rRNA gene libraries, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Mean CH 4 yields did not differ ( P > 0.05) between diets, being 16.9 and 20.2 g/kg DMI for the 500/500 and 900/100 diets, respectively. The T-RFLP analysis revealed that populations differed between individual cows and that each individual population responded differently to the diets. The 16S rRNA gene libraries revealed that Methanobrevibacter spp. dominated for both diets. CH 4 production was positively correlated with a dominance of sequences representing T-RFs related to Methanobrevibacter thaueri , Methanobrevibacter millerae , and Methanobrevibacter smithii relative to Methanobrevibacter ruminantium and Methanobrevibacter olleyae . Total numbers of methanogens and total numbers of Methanobacteriales were significantly higher with the 500/500 diet ( P < 0.0004 and P < 0.002, respectively). However, no relationship was found between CH 4 production and total number of methanogens. No differences were seen in total VFA, propionic acid, or acetic acid contents, but the molar proportion of butyric acid in the rumen was higher for the 500/500 diet than for the 900/100 diet ( P < 0.05). Interestingly, the results also revealed that a division of the identified methanogenic species into two groups, suggested in the work of King et al. (E. E. King, R. P. Smith, B. St-Pierre, and A. D. G. Wright, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 77: 5682–5687, 2011), increased the understanding of the variation in CH 4 production between different cows.

There are indications that the more frequent use of untreated organic residues for fertilization results in increased risk of contamination with human pathogens. Here, we evaluate the ability of two different strains ofCampylobacter jejunito persist in manure and soil as well as spread to spinach plants. It was revealed that different strategies for inoculation ofC. jejunicontribute to the persistence of the bacterium in soil, roots, and shoots. Upon inoculation of the bacteria into manure prior to soil application, the amount ofC. jejunisubsequently recovered in soil was higher than that from treatments involving the addition ofC. jejunicells to the soil after plant emergence. Irrespective of the bacterial inoculation dose and strategy employed, theC. jejunicontent in soil remained relatively constant, whereas the majority ofC. jejunicells applied to spinach leaves could be recovered during the whole evaluation period of 21 days.

To attain the global goal of an environmentally sustainable society in which organic material is successfully recycled back to arable land, it is crucial to develop effective procedures for the treatment of sewage sludge. The term “sewage sludge” or “biosolids” represents the insoluble