Transcriptome changes in newborn goats' skeletal muscle as a result of maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation

We investigated how feed restriction at 50% of maintenance requirements during different stages of gestation affects the transcriptome of newborn goats' skeletal muscle. Fourteen pregnant dams were randomly assigned into one of the following dietary treatments: animals fed at 50% of maintenance requirement from 8-84 d of gestation and then fed at 100% of maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (RM, n = 6), and animals fed at 100% of maintenance requirement from 8-84 d of gestation and then fed at 50% of maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (MR, n = 8). At birth, samples of offspring's Longissimus muscle were collected for total RNA extraction and sequencing. Our data showed 66 differentially expressed (DE) genes (FDR < 0.05). A total of 6 genes were upregulated and 60 downregulated (FDR < 0.05) in the skeletal muscle of the newborns resulting from treatment RM compared with MR. Our results suggest that the DE genes upregulated in newborn goats' skeletal muscle from the RM group compared to MR, included genes related to satellite cells, and genes that indicates impaired insulin sensitivity and changes in the composition of intramuscular fat. The DE genes upregulated in newborn goats' skeletal muscle from the MR group compared to RM, are also related to impaired insulin sensitivity, as well as a predominantly oxidative metabolism and cellular oxidative stress. However, protective mechanisms against insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress may have been augmented in the skeletal muscle of offspring from MR treatment compared to RM, in order to maintain cellular homeostasis

Effect of low-dose gaseous ozone on pathogenic bacteria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Treatment of chronically infected wounds is a challenge, and bacterial environmental contamination is a growing issue in infection control. Ozone may have a role in these situations. The objective of this study was to determine whether a low dose of gaseous ozone/oxygen mixture eliminates pathogenic bacteria cultivated in Petri dishes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A pilot study with 6 bacterial strains was made using different concentrations of ozone in an ozone-oxygen mixture to determine a minimally effective dose that completely eliminated bacterial growth. The small and apparently bactericidal gaseous dose of 20 μg/mL ozone/oxygen (1:99) mixture, applied for 5min under atmospheric pressure was selected. In the 2^nd phase, eight bacterial strains with well characterized resistance patterns were evaluated <it>in vitro</it> using agar-blood in adapted Petri dishes (10⁵ bacteria/dish). The cultures were divided into 3 groups: 1- ozone-oxygen gaseous mixture containing 20 μg of O₃/mL for 5 min; 2- 100% oxygen for 5 min; 3- baseline: no gas was used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The selected ozone dose was applied to the following eight strains: <it>Escherichia coli</it>, oxacillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it>, oxacillin-susceptible <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it>, vancomycin-resistant <it>Enterococcus faecalis</it>, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing <it>Klebsiella pneumoniae</it>, carbapenem-resistant <it>Acinetobacter baumannii</it>, <it>Acinetobacter baumannii</it> susceptible only to carbapenems, and <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</it> susceptible to imipenem and meropenem. All isolates were completely inhibited by the ozone-oxygen mixture while growth occurred in the other 2 groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A single topical application by nebulization of a low ozone dose completely inhibited the growth of all potentially pathogenic bacterial strains with known resistance to antimicrobial agents.</p