Body condition effects in American kestrels fed selenomethionine

Body composition was measured in male American kestrels (Falco sparverius) beginning after a 77-day exposure to 0, 6, or 12 ppm (dry wt.) selenium as seleno-L-methionine in their diet. Total body mass, lean body mass, and body fat were compared among groups to identify potential wasting effects of selenium, as had been reported for wild waterfowl from a selenium-contaminated site. On the last day of selenium treatment, selenium concentrations in the blood of kestrels was significantly negatively correlated with lean mass. Kestrels that had been exposed to 12 ppm selenium in the diet exhibited relatively higher lean mass (relative to total body mass) and lower normalized body fat than kestrels fed 0 or 6 ppm dietary selenium. These differences persisted throughout the 6 mo study period. The effect observed on body condition of kestrels at environmentally relevant exposure levels has implications for wild birds with respect to both overwinter survival and reproductive success.     

A longitudinal study on BIO14.6 hamsters with dilated cardiomyopathy: micro-echocardiographic evaluation

Background

Acute myocarditis may mimic myocardial infarction, since affected patients complain of "typical" chest pain, the ECG changes are identical to those observed in acute coronary syndromes, and serum markers are increased. We describe a case series of presumptive myocarditis with ST segment elevation on admission ECG.

Methods and Results

From 1998 to 2009, 21 patients (20 males; age 17-42 years) were admitted with chest pain, persistent ST segment elevation, serum enzyme and troponine release. All but one patients had fever and flu-like symptoms prior to admission. No abnormal Q wave appeared in any ECG tracing, and angiography did not show significant coronary artery disease. Patients remained asymptomatic at long term follow-up, except 2 who experienced a late relapse, with the same clinical, electrocardiographic and serum findings as in the first clinical presentation.

Conclusion

Presumptive myocarditis of possible viral origin characterized by ST elevation mimicking myocardial infarction, good short term prognosis and some risk for recurrence is relatively frequent in young males and appears as a distinct clinical condition.     

Acceptance and suitability of Cacyreus marshalli (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) as host for three indigenous parasitoids

Laboratory tests were conducted in Italy to evaluate the acceptance and suitability of the alien butterfly Cacyreus marshalli Butler as host for three indigenous parasitoids, Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko), Exorista larvarum (L.) and Brachymeria tibialis (Walker). Only E. larvarum and B. tibialis showed potential to adapt to C. marshalli. Their contribution to biological control appeared to be especially related to host mortality due to incomplete parasitoid development.     

Biliverdin Protects against Liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Swine

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in organ transplantation remains a serious and unsolved problem. Organs that undergo significant damage during IRI, function less well immediately after reperfusion and tend to have more problems at later times when rejection can occur. Biliverdin has emerged as an agent that potently suppress IRI in rodent models. Since the use of biliverdin is being developed as a potential therapeutic modality for humans, we tested the efficacy for its effects on IRI of the liver in swine, an accepted and relevant pre-clinical animal model. Administration of biliverdin resulted in rapid appearance of bilirubin in the serum and significantly suppressed IRI-induced liver dysfunction as measured by multiple parameters including urea and ammonia clearance, neutrophil infiltration and tissue histopathology including hepatocyte cell death. Taken together, our findings, in a large animal model, provide strong support for the continued evaluation of biliverdin as a potential therapeutic in the clinical setting of transplantation of the liver and perhaps other organs.