Extracellular vesicles of ETV2 transfected fibroblasts stimulate endothelial cells and improve neovascularization in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia

Ischemia are common conditions related to lack of blood supply to tissues. Depending on the ischemic sites, ischemia can cause different diseases, such as hindlimb ischemia, heart infarction and stroke. This study aims to evaluate how extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from ETV2 transfected fibroblasts affect endothelial cell proliferation and neovascularization in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. Human fibroblasts were isolated and cultured under standard conditions and expanded to the 3th passage before use in experiments. Human fibroblasts were transduced with a viral vector containing the ETV2 gene. Transduced cells were selected by puromycin treatment. These cells were further cultured for collection of EVs, which were isolated from culture supernatant. Following co-culture with endothelial cells, EVs were evaluated for their effect on endothelial cell proliferation and were directly injected into ischemic tissues of a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. The results showed that EVs could induce endothelial cell proliferation in vitro and improved neovascularization in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. Our results suggest that EVs derived from ETV2-transfected fibroblasts can be promising non-cellular products for the regeneration of blood vessels.     

Evaporative heat loss from group-housed growing pigs at high ambient temperatures

The effects of relative humidity and ambient temperature on evaporative heat loss were studied in 12 trials each with a group of 10 gilts with an initial BW of 61.7 kg (58.0–65.5 kg). The ambient temperature inside a respiration chamber was increased by 2 °C d⁻¹ starting at 16 °C and ending at 32 °C. Relative humidity was set at 50%, 65% or 80% and remained constant within each trial. The animals had free access to feed and water. Skin temperature (SkinT), total heat production (HP), evaporative heat loss (EvapH), respiration rate (RR), and wallowing of the animals were recorded. SkinT was lowest at 80% relative humidity (P<0.05). For each degree Celsius rise in SkinT, wallowing increased by 0.19% (P<0.05). For each degree Celsius rise in ambient temperature, total HP decreased by 115 kJ pig⁻¹ d⁻¹ and EvapH increased by 290 kJ pig⁻¹ d⁻¹ (P<0.05). It was concluded that under constant high ambient temperature and relative humidity, the pigs clearly employ respiratory evaporation to lose heat. Wallowing showed the importance of skin EvapH with higher temperatures, especially at high relative humidity. This study shows the importance of evaporative cooling from the skin. The implication is that pigs at high ambient temperatures, especially in combination with a high relative humidity, should be able to wet themselves. For animal welfare and environmental reasons, it is important that they are able to wet their skin.     

Rapid detection of Salmonella enterica in primary production samples by eliminating DNA amplification inhibitors using an improved sample pre-treatment method

Sensitive detection of pathogens in livestock farms is an integral part of the One Health Action Plan of the European Union (EU). Ensuring this requires on-site testing devices that are compatible with complex matrices such as primary production samples. Among all, faeces are considered the most challenging matrix type that makes it difficult to identify pathogens because of complexity in sample preparation for molecular testing. We have developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) based veterinary point-of-care (POC) device (VETPOD) and adapted it to detect Salmonella enterica in primary production samples. Three different sampling methods (semi-wet chicken faeces, boot socks collection and dust samples from poultry shed) were iteratively tested to assess their nature of complexity and possibility for adapting them as suitable sampling methods for on-site testing. During the study, the sample preparation method that included a two-step centrifugation combined with washing of the enriched Salmonella cells was found crucial in eliminating amplification inhibitors originating from the faecal matrices. A total of 90 samples were tested that included 60 samples for sensitivity study and 30 samples for relative level of detection (RLOD, a level of detection in comparison to ISO 6579:1 reference method). Overall, the VETPOD had a sensitivity of 90%, 84.62% and 81.82% for boot sock, faecal and dust samples, respectively. The RLOD was 2.23 CFU/25 g which was found to be 1.33 times higher than the ISO 6579:1. Performing with an excellent agreement with ISO 6579:1, the VETPOD proved as a promising alternative to detect Salmonella spp. in primary production and animal husbandry samples.     

Clinical and Laboratory Aspects of Insulin Autoantibody-Mediated Glycaemic Dysregulation and Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia: Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome and Exogenous Insulin Antibody Syndrome

Autoimmune glycaemic dysregulation and hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia mediated by insulin autoantibodies is an increasingly recognised but controversial phenomenon described in both exogenous insulin naïve (insulin autoimmune syndrome) and exposed (exogenous insulin antibody syndrome) individuals. There has been a significant proliferation of case reports, clinical studies and reviews in the medical literature in recent years which have collectively highlighted the discrepancy between experts in the field with regard to the nomenclature, definition, proposed pathophysiology, as well as the clinical and biochemical diagnostic criteria associated with the condition. The essential characteristics of the condition are glycaemic dysregulation manifesting as episodes of hyperglycaemia and unpredictable hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia associated with high titres of endogenous antibodies to insulin. Although the hypoglycaemia is often life-threatening and initiation of targeted therapies critical, the diagnosis is often delayed and attributable to various factors including: the fact that existence of the condition is not universally accepted; the need to exclude surreptitious causes of hypoglycaemia; the diverse and often complex nature of the glycaemic dysregulation; and the challenge of diagnostic confirmation. Once confirmed, the available therapeutic options are expansive and the reported responses to these therapies have been variable. This review will focus on our evolving understanding, and the associated diagnostic challenges – both clinical and laboratory – of this complex condition.     

Isolation and characterization of thermotolerant yeasts for the production of second-generation bioethanol

The purpose of this study was to isolate, identify, and characterize the thermotolerant yeasts for use in high-temperature ethanol fermentation. Thermotolerant yeasts were isolated and screened from soil samples collected from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, using the enrichment method. Classification and identification of the selected thermotolerant yeasts were performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-fight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) and nucleotide sequencing of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rDNA and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 regions. The ethanol production by the selected thermotolerant yeast was carried out using pineapple waste hydrolysate (PWH) as feedstock. A total of 174 yeast isolates were obtained from 80 soil samples collected from 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Using MALDI-TOF/MS and nucleotide sequencing of the D1/D2 domain and the ITS 1 and 2 regions, six different yeast species were identified, including Meyerozyma caribbica, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida tropicalis, Torulaspora globosa, Pichia manshurica, and Pichia kudriavzevii. Among the isolated thermotolerant yeasts, P. kudriavzevii CM4.2 displayed great potential for high-temperature ethanol fermentation. The maximum ethanol concentration (36.91 g/L) and volumetric ethanol productivity (4.10 g/L h) produced at 45 °C by P. kudriavzevii CM4.2 were achieved using PWH containing 103.08 g/L of total sugars as a feedstock. These findings clearly demonstrate that the newly isolated thermotolerant yeast P. kudriavzevii CM4.2 has a high potential for second-generation bioethanol production at high temperature.     

Impact of covert duplicate publication on meta-analysis: a case study.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of duplicate data on estimates of efficacy. DESIGN: Systematic search for published full reports of randomised controlled trials investigating ondansetron''s effect on postoperative emesis. Abstracts were not considered. DATA SOURCES: Eighty four trials (11,980 patients receiving ondansetron) published between 1991 and September 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of duplicated trials and patient data. Estimation of antiemetic efficacy (prevention of emesis) of the most duplicated ondansetron regimen. Comparison between the efficacy of non-duplicated and duplicated data. RESULTS: Data from nine trials had been published in 14 further reports, duplicating data from 3335 patients receiving ondansetron; none used a clear cross reference. Intravenous ondansetron 4 mg versus placebo was investigated in 16 reports not subject to duplicate publication, three reports subject to duplicate publication, and six duplicates of those three reports. The number needed to treat to prevent vomiting within 24 hours was 9.5 (95% confidence interval 6.9 to 15) in the 16 non-duplicated reports and 3.9 (3.3 to 4.8) in the three reports which were duplicated (P < 0.00001). When these 19 were combined the number needed to treat was 6.4 (5.3 to 7.9). When all original and duplicate reports were combined (n = 25) the apparent number needed to treat improved to 4.9 (4.4 to 5.6). CONCLUSIONS: By searching systematically we found 17% of published full reports of randomised trials and 28% of the patient data were duplicated. Trials reporting greater treatment effect were significantly more likely to be duplicated. Inclusion of duplicated data in meta-analysis led to a 23% overestimation of ondansetron''s antiemetic efficacy.