Reproductive performance of Friesian mares after retained placenta and manual removal of the placenta

Because the incidence of retained placenta in Friesian mares is estimated to be high, and no reports have been published on the reproductive performance of Friesian mares after retained placenta, we studied postpartum reproductive performance in Friesian brood mares with (n = 54) and without (n = 50) retained placenta. We defined a retained placenta as the failure to expel all fetal membranes within 3 h after the delivery of a foal. We subdivided the group of mares with retained placenta into mares in which the placenta had been removed manually (n = 30) and mares in which it had not (n = 24). Within each group, we compared reproductive performance after breeding in the foal heat and breeding in a subsequent heat. We also recorded the age of the mares, number of mares treated with antibiotics after insemination, and number of mares treated with prostaglandins. The interval between delivery and conception, efficacy rate (number of served cycles divided by the number of mares that had a positive pregnancy diagnosis), seasonal pregnancy rate, pregnancy rate after first insemination, pregnancy loss rate, and foaling rate did not differ between mares with and without retained placenta or between mares with and without manual removal of the retained placenta. Within each group, the pregnancy rate after first insemination did not differ between breeding for the first time in the foal heat and breeding for the first time in a subsequent heat. We concluded that reproductive performance did not differ between (1) Friesian mares with and without retained placenta and (2) Friesian mares with and without manual removal of the placenta. With regard to reproductive performance, retained placenta and manual removal of the placenta are not valid reasons to avoid foal heat breeding in Friesian mares.     

Expression of an isoform of the testis-specific estrogen sulfotransferase in the murine placenta during the late gestational period

Cytosolic sulfotransferases play essential roles in regulating the activities and transfer of steroids. To evaluate their biological significance in the murine uterus and placenta during the course of gestation, we determined their activities with several steroids as substrates. Activated estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) was found in the placenta and uterus during the late gestational period. Reverse-transcribed cDNA of murine placental EST (mpEST) was isolated from mouse placenta at 18 days of gestation and its expression in the tissue coincided with a change in its enzyme activity. The open-reading frame of mpEST encodes a protein composed of 296 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 35.5 kDa and was revealed to be an isoform of the murine testis-specific EST gene (99.7%). Also, the amino acid sequence of mpEST showed 49.6 and 77.9% homology with human placental and endometrial EST, respectively, showing that it corresponds to human endometrial EST. COS-7 cells transfected with mpEST exhibited sulfotransferase activity with the phenolic hydroxy groups of steroids and artificial substrates. The best acceptor substrate was estrogen.     

Bacteriological and epidemiological findings during examination of the uterine content of ewes with retention of fetal membranes

We included 92 pairs of ewes with or without retention of fetal membranes in a cohort study of 25 flocks in Southern Greece. We obtained two uterine content samples under aseptic conditions, by introducing a swab into the uterus of these ewes, on the 2nd-4th and the 5th-9th day after lambing. We used conventional bacteriological techniques to isolate and identify bacteria and to carry out antimicrobial agents susceptibility testing. The prevalence of bacterial intrauterine contamination among ewes with retention was 24% on the first and 46% on the second sampling (P < 0.0001) and that among ewes without retention was 8 and 2% (P > 0.05), respectively. Clinical signs accompanying the retention of fetal membranes were more frequently observed among ewes with intrauterine contamination than among those without (P = 0.0007). The odds of an ewe having an intrauterine contamination increased multiplicatively by 1.06 when the median duration of retention in the flock increased by 6 h. The principal bacteria isolated from the ewes with retention were Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Escherichia coli; 21% of 73 isolates tested were found resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent.     

Effect of two different rest period lengths on the number of repetitions performed during resistance training

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 2 different rest period lengths during a resistance training session with the number of repetitions completed per set of each exercise, the volume completed over 3 sets of each exercise, and the total volume during a training session. Fourteen experienced, weight-trained men volunteered to participate in the study. All subjects completed 2 experimental training sessions. Both sessions consisted of 3 sets of 8 repetitions with an 8 repetition maximum resistance of 6 upper body exercises performed in a set manner (wide grip lat pull-down, close grip pull-down, machine seated row, barbell row lying on a bench, dumbbell seated arm curl, and machine seated arm curl). The 2 experimental sessions differed only in the length of the rest period between sets and exercises: 1 session with a 1-minute and the other with a 3-minute rest period. For all exercises, results demonstrate a significantly lower total number of repetitions for all 3 sets of an exercise when 1-minute rest periods were used (p < or = 0.05). The 3- and 1-minute protocols both resulted in a significant decrease from set 1 to set 3 in 4 of the 6 exercises (p < or = 0.05), whereas the 1-minute protocol also demonstrated a significant decrease from set 1 to set 2 in 2 of the 6 exercises (p < or = 0.05). The results indicate that, during a resistance training session composed of all upper body exercises, 1-minute rest periods result in a decrease in the total number of repetitions performed compared with 3-minute rest periods between sets and exercises.     

抽穗扬花期不同灌水处理对晚稻抵御低温、产量和生理特性的影响

以超级杂交晚稻品种‘五丰优T025’为材料,设置日排夜灌,灌溉水深4～5 cm(H₁);日排夜灌,灌溉水深8～10 cm(H₂);深水灌溉,保持水深8～10 cm(H₃)等3个处理,以稻田湿润处理水层0～1 cm为对照,研究了抽穗扬花期遭遇低温条件下不同灌水方式和水层深度对双季晚稻生理特性及产量的影响.结果表明: 低温期间,不同灌水处理叶片、土层和冠层温度较对照均有所提高,其中H₂处理增温效果最好.低温胁迫下各处理稻株叶片叶绿素含量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、叶片气孔导度和胞间CO₂浓度均逐渐降低,其中H₂处理降低幅度最小;H₂处理叶片丙二醛、游离脯氨酸含量上升幅度最小,可溶性蛋白含量高于其余处理,超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶增幅最小,过氧化氢酶下降幅度最小.灌水保温均可达到增产效果,以H₂处理效果最佳,遭遇低温的2014年和2015年第二播期H₂处理分别比对照增产12.9%和13.5%;从产量结构上看,各处理较对照在单株有效穗数、穗长、结实率、千粒重上均有一定的改善,日排夜灌8～10 cm水深处理是增强双季杂交晚稻抽穗扬花期低温抵御能力较为实用的农艺措施.     

In-vitro steroid synthesis by the placenta of cows in late gestation and at parturition

Placental tissues were collected during late gestation (Group I, N = 11), pre partum (Group II, N = 9) and post partum (N = 29): 15 of the post-partum cows released the fetal membranes normally (Group III) and 14 retained the fetal membranes (Group IV). Preparations of dispersed fetal placental cells, preparations enriched in binucleate cells (BNC) or in small principal cells as well as tissue minces were utilized. Maternal placental tissue (caruncle) and fetal placental principal cells made minimal conversion of prenenolone and androstenedione to other steroids (less than 15% conversion). Fetal placental tissue and enriched preparations of BNC were more active and were similar in their conversion of pregnenolone and androstenedione to other steroids. BNC converted pregnenolone primarily to progesterone during late gestation, but this was altered in the direction of oestrogens pre partum and post partum. BNC were capable of converting androstenedione to oestrogens, but this ability diminished greatly post partum if the fetal membranes were released normally. In-vitro treatment of fetal placental tissue minces with dexamethasone increased the conversion of pregnenolone to androstenedione and the oestrogens but did not alter the conversion the primary cell type involved in fetal placental steroidogenesis peripartum and that dexamethasone may alter this steroidogenesis by activating the C17,20-lyase enzyme complex.     

Absorption and release of biogenic amines by the lung during the restorative period after hypovolemic hypotension

The processes of serotonin and histamine absorption and release by the lungs were studied in dogs during 1 to 3.5 hour hypovolemic hypotension and during 24 hours after blood retains fusion. Absorption of biogenic amines by the lungs tended to increase in all the animals under hypovolemic hypotension. In the group of non-survivors the serotonin absorption by the lungs in the post-terminal period remained increased, while in the group of survivors it came down to normal soon, though the histamine release was increased. The above processes were aggravated in the group of animals whose lungs were affected by oleic acid. It resulted in the absorption of histamine instead of its release. The intensified absorption of biogenic amines by the lungs was accompanied by a quick fall in cardiac output, by the increase in resistance of systemic and pulmonary circulation.     

Effects of wearing two different types of clothing on body temperatures during and after exercise

The experiment was conducted to investigate the human thermoregulatory responses during rest, exercise and recovery atT _a 20°C and 60% R.H. under the conditions of wearing two different types of clothing. Six healthy men wore two types of clothing: one covering the whole body area except the head (Type A, weight 1656 g), and the other covering only the trunk, upper arms and thighs (Type B, weight 996 g). The level of rectal temperature was kept significantly higher in Type B than in Type A during rest and recovery. The increased and decreased rates of rectal temperature during exercise and recovery were significantly greater in Type A than in Type B, respectively. These findings are discussed from the viewpoint of the differences of skin temperatures of the extremities between Type A and Type B.     

Genotoxicity and embryotoxicity of urban air particulate matter collected during winter and summer period in two different districts of the Czech Republic

This study is the in vitro part of a long-term program to investigate the impact of air pollution on the health of a population in a polluted region of Northern Bohemia. In order to assess the possible health risks associated with a complex mixture of hundreds of organic compounds adsorbed to air particles, we used a biomarker-directed fractionation procedure to evaluate biological activities of different chemical compound classes. The extractable organic compounds from the air particles collected in both the polluted and the control districts during the summers and winters of 1993-1994 were investigated. The principal aim of this study was to compare the DNA binding activities of those compound classes using an in vitro acellular assay coupled with 32P-postlabeling and an embryotoxicity assay using Chick Embryotoxicity Screening Test (CHEST). In both assays, the highest activity was due to the neutral fractions from which the aromatic subfractions containing mainly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their methyl-derivates were the most active for both localities and seasons. A good correlation between the levels of DNA adduct formation using S9 metabolic activation and the ED50 for all different complex mixtures of organic compounds was observed (r=0.773, p<0.001). DNA adduct maps and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles were similar for samples from both districts and seasons. The major DNA adducts resulting from the crude extracts were identical to those derived from aromatic fractions. The DNA adducts tentatively identified constituted about 50% of the total adducts formed by the crude extracts following S9-metabolic activation. Our results confirmed the similarities of the major ubiquitous emission sources of organic compounds in both districts. This is the first report in which the biological activities of complex mixtures in short-term assays with remarkably different endpoints such as DNA adduct formation and embryotoxicity have been compared.     

Production of two species of interferon by Large White and Meishan pig conceptuses during the peri-attachment period.

Antiviral activities present in uterine flushings from pregnant Large White, Large White 'hyperprolific', and prolific Meishan gilts, between Days 8 and 20 of gestation were compared. Flushings (20 ml) from all gilts between Days 14 and 20 were positive in an in-vitro interferon (IFN) assay using vesicular stomatitis virus as a challenge infection. Highest antiviral activities (of up to 400,000-1,200,000 total Units/flushing) were obtained at Day 16 of gestation, i.e. clearly after the beginning of attachment. There was no major difference between breeds although, at Day 14, flushings from Meishan gilts yielded significantly higher titres than those from the other two, suggesting a correlation with the previously described earlier trophoblast elongation in Meishan gilts. Conceptus cultures contained antiviral activity, with values very close to those obtained in vivo, but the difference between breeds was not significant. Cultures from Day 20 on contained very little antiviral activity. The antiviral activity was associated with a mixture of at least two IFNs, one of which was IFN-alpha like, and the other was serologically identified as an IFN-gamma, that is an 'immune IFN', previously found to be secreted only by T lymphocytes. This finding may have implications for our understanding of the immunology of early pregnancy.     

Localization and regulation of IL-1alpha in rat myometrium during late pregnancy and the postpartum period

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been implicated as a participant in preterm labor that is induced by bacterial infection. Previously, we showed that serotonin-induced production of IL-1alpha by myometrial smooth muscle cells in vitro is also essential for the synthesis of interstitial collagenase. It is therefore likely that IL-1alpha production in uterine tissues has implications for both the normal physiology of involution and for the pathophysiological mechanisms of preterm labor. The objective of this study was to characterize the serotonin-induced production of IL-1alpha by myometrial cultures in vitro and to assess the production of IL-1alpha and its relationship to collagenase production in vivo during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated IL-1alpha protein in the nuclei and cytoplasm of serotonin-treated myometrial cells. IL-1alpha levels were decreased by treatment with progesterone or IL-1-receptor antagonist but were unaffected by lipopolysaccharide. Western analysis of myometrium from pregnant rats showed low levels of IL-1alpha during midpregnancy with increased concentrations at days 21 and 22 and postpartum. IL-1alpha mRNA levels also increased from days 15 to 22. Levels of mRNA for IL-1beta also increased, although to a lesser degree than IL-1alpha. Both mRNAs decreased postpartum. Conversely, mRNA for interstitial collagenase was barely detectable at term but increased postpartum. Together, these data show that serotonin stimulates IL-1alpha production in vitro and indicate that normal myometrium from pregnant rats is an identifiable source of IL-1 during late pregnancy. The findings are consistent with the possibility that myometrial IL-1alpha participates in normal labor as well as the postpartum production of interstitial collagenase.     

Reconstruction of late craniofacial deformities after irradiation of the head and face during childhood

Little is known about the results of surgical management of late craniofacial abnormalities arising after irradiation of the head and face for treatment of childhood cancers. The clinical records of 10 children (4 males and 6 females) who received 4500 to 6500 rads (mean 5160 rads) of craniofacial radiation between birth and 8 years of age (mean 5 years) and who subsequently had reconstructive surgery were reviewed. Six of the 10 patients received orbital radiation, 3 received maxillary-midfacial radiation, and 1 patient underwent radiation to the frontal bone. Histologic tumor types included retinoblastoma (4), rhabdomyosarcoma (3), Ewing's sarcoma (2), and neurofibrosarcoma (1). In addition to radiation, 7 of the 10 patients underwent surgical resection or debulking of their tumors and 6 received adjuvant chemotherapy. All patients presented from 4 to 20 years after treatment (mean 10 years) with varying, but severe degrees of soft-tissue and bony hypoplasia of the irradiated territories. Onlay bone grafting with soft-tissue reconstruction by a combination of local pedicle flaps and dermal-fat grafts was initially performed in 9 patients, and an occipitoparietal bone-flap switch procedure was done in 1 patient. Late follow-up ranged from 11 months to 7.5 years (mean 34 months). A total of 8 secondary procedures were necessary in 4 of the 10 patients (40 percent). Of these 4 patients, major revisions were performed in 3 and minor adjustments in 1. In addition, 2 patients in whom secondary procedures had not been done would benefit from further reconstruction. Therapy for cancer of the head and face during childhood has profound and ongoing effects on the growth of soft tissue and bone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)