Evaluation of adverse effects in tamoxifen exposed healthy female dogs

Background

Hypertension and proteinuria are medical complications associated with the multisystemic effects of long-term hypercortisolism in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).

Methods

This study investigated the relationships among adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulation test results, systemic blood pressure, and microalbuminuria in clinically-healthy dogs (n = 100), in dogs affected with naturally occurring pituitary-dependent (PDH; n = 40), or adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADH; n = 30).

Results

Mean systemic blood pressure was similar between clinically healthy dogs and dogs with HAC (p = 0.803). However the incidence of hypertension was highest in dogs with ADH (p = 0.017), followed by dogs with PDH, with the lowest levels in clinically healthy dogs (p = 0.019). Presence of microalbuminuria and albuminuria in clinically healthy dogs and dogs affected with HAC was significantly different (p < 0.001); incidences of albuminuria followed the same pattern of hypertension; highest incidence in dogs with ADH, and lowest level in clinically healthy dogs; but microalbuminuria showed a different pattern: clinically healthy dogs had highest incidences and dogs with ADH had lowest incidence. The presence of albuminuria was not associated with blood pressure values, regardless of whether dogs were clinically healthy or affected with ADH or PDH (p = 0.306).

Conclusions

Higher incidence of hypertension and albuminuria, not microalbuminuria was seen in dogs affected with HAC compared to clinically healthy dogs; incidence of hypertension and albuminuria was significantly higher in dogs affected with ADH compared to PDH. However, presence of albuminuria was not correlated with systemic blood pressure.     

Survival of Brucella abortus strain RB51 lyophilized and as liquid vaccine under different storage conditions.

Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51) is a new cattle vaccine that is approved for use in the U.S. for prevention of brucellosis. At the present time, other countries are implementing or considering the use of SRB51 vaccine in their brucellosis control programs. In the current study, the effect of three stabilizing media, two fill volumes (1 and 3 ml), and three storage temperatures (-25, 4 and 25 degrees C) on the viability of lyophilized SRB51 over a 52 week period was determined. The effects of three concentrations of bacteria (5 x 10(8), 1 x 10(9), or 5 x 10(9) cfu/ml) and two storage temperatures (4 or 25 degrees C) on viability of liquid SRB51 vaccine were also determined. For lyophilized strain RB51 vaccine, fill volume did not influence viability (P> 0.05) during lyophilization. Although fill volume did not influence viability during storage in World Health Organization (WHO) media or media containing both WHO and Lactose Salt (LS) media, 1 ml fill volumes of SRB51 in LS media had greater (P< 0.05) viability when compared to 3 ml fill volumes. Lyophilized SRB51 vaccine stored at 25 degrees C had a more rapid decline in viability (P< 0.05) when compared to vaccine stored at -25 or 4 degrees C. With the exception of the 3-ml fill volumes of LS media, all three stabilizing media were similar in maintaining viability of SRB51 at -25 degrees C storage temperatures. However, when compared to WHO or WHO/LS media, stabilization in LS media was associated with a more rapid decline in viability during storage at 4 or 25 degrees C (P< 0.05). Initial SRB51 concentration in liquid vaccine did not influence (P> 0.05) viability during storage at 4 or 25 degrees C. When compared to liquid SRB51 vaccine stored at 25 degrees C, storage at 4 degrees C was associated with a slower decline in viability (P< 0.05) during 12 weeks of storage. Biochemical and morphological characteristics of SRB51 were stable under the storage conditions utilized in the present study. This study suggests that viability of SRB51 can be readily maintained during storage as a lyophilized or liquid brucellosis vaccine.     

Vaccine-associated systemic Rhodococcus erythropolis infection in farmed atlantic salmon Salmo salar

In 7 instances between 2000 and 2003, clinical investigation of populations of fresh- and seawater-reared, vaccinated, Atlantic salmon Salmo salar suffering total losses of between 0.1 and 35 % revealed infection with a Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium. The isolations were geographically widespread, occurring in both Norway and Scotland. In all cases, a Gram-positive bacterium, subsequently identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis, was isolated in pure culture. Infections, although systemic, were focused within the peritoneal cavity. While initial attempts to reproduce the disease by intraperitoneal injection of unvaccinated Atlantic salmon failed, Koch's postulates were subsequently fulfilled in fish vaccinated with a commercially available oil-adjuvanted vaccine.     

Purification and characterization of the messenger ribonucleoprotein-associated casein kinase II of Artemia salina cryptobiotic gastrulae

The mRNP-associated protein kinase is purified to near homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography on phosphocellulose and affinity chromatography on casein-Sepharose 4B and ATP-agarose. The cyclic nucleotide-independent enzyme phosphorylates casein using either ATP or GTP. The enzyme exists in two forms composed of subunits with M_r 36 500 (α) and 28 000 (β) and of subunits with M_r 36 500 (α), 33 000 (α′) and 28 000 (β). The undegraded enzyme has an M_r of 136 000 ± 7000. The enzyme is inhibited by heparin and hemin and stimulated by spermine. The mRNP-associated protein kinase may be classified as a casein kinase II. Main mRNP protein phosphate acceptors have M_r values of 112 000, 72 000, 65 000, 53 000, 38 000, 28 000, 23 500 and 21 000. Phosphorylation of the M_r 38 000 poly(A)-binding protein resulted in the generation of different acidic ionic species. From the observed inhibition of the translational activity after phosphorylation by the mRNP-associated protein kinase a function in the repression of mRNP is proposed.     

Dephosphorylation of cytoplasmic non-polysomal messenger ribonucleoproteins from cryptobiotic gastrulae of Artemia salina

Cytoplasmic non-polysomal mRNP from cryptobiotic gastrulae of the brine shrimp Artemia salina do not contain endogeneous protein phosphatase activity. However, both non-polysomal mRNP and purified mRNP proteins, phosphorylated by mRNP associated protein kinase, can be dephosphorylated by protein phosphatases purified from A. salina cytosol and rabbit skeletal muscle. The 38 kDa and 23.5 kDa poly(A) binding proteins (P38 and P23.5) and a 65 kDa protein are the major substrates of each protein phosphatase used. The reversible phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of mRNP may be involved in the regulation of mRNP metabolism, by altering the poly(A) binding capacities of the mRNP proteins.     

Comparison of Six Methods for Isolating Mycobacteria from Swine Lymph Nodes

Six laboratory methods were compared for isolating acid-fast bacteria. Tuberculous lymph nodes from each of 48 swine as identified by federal meat inspectors were processed by each of the methods. Treated tissue suspensions were inoculated onto each of eight media which were observed at 7-day intervals for 9 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences between the number of Mycobacterium avium complex bacteria isolated by each of the six methods. Rapid tissue preparation methods involving treatment with 2% sodium hydroxide or treatment with 0.2% zephiran required only one-third to one-fourth the processing time as a standard method. There were small differences in the amount of contamination among the six methods, but no detectable differences in the time of first appearance of M. avium complex colonies.     

The effects of tin (Sn) additions on the growth of spinach plants

An increase in bioavailable tin in the environment could result in bioaccumulation thereof in agricultural crops, and therefore, have adverse health consequences on humans that eat these crops. The aims of the current study were thus to assess the uptake of Sn by spinach plants, and the subsequent effects this will have on the uptake of Na, Zn, K, Ca, and Mg as well as the growth of spinach plants. Spinach plants were grown in sand culture and received tin at concentrations of 0.02, 0.2, 2 and 20 mg/L along with a nutrient solution. The uptake of tin at detectible concentrations only occurred at the highest concentrations (2 and 20 mg/L), and it was mostly retained in the roots of the plants. Tin additions also resulted in no visual toxicity symptoms, and might be beneficial to biomass production. Further field trials are needed to ensure that these experimental results remain true under field conditions.     

LAITOR - Literature Assistant for Identification of Terms co-Occurrences and Relationships

Background  

Biological knowledge is represented in scientific literature that often describes the function of genes/proteins (bioentities) in terms of their interactions (biointeractions). Such bioentities are often related to biological concepts of interest that are specific of a determined research field. Therefore, the study of the current literature about a selected topic deposited in public databases, facilitates the generation of novel hypotheses associating a set of bioentities to a common context.     

Production of a Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) and evaluation of potency in guinea pigs.

A Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) was produced and the biologic activity evaluated in sensitized guinea pigs. The PPD when adjusted to a protein concentration of 1mg/ml induced a delayed-type hypersensitivity response comparable to USDA Johnin OT 133-8707.