Comparison of immune response to lipopolysaccharide of rabbit does selected for litter size at weaning or founded for reproductive longevity

To evaluate differences in maternal lines to the immune response of reproductive rabbit does, a total of 64 animals of two different lines: (1) founded for hyper-longevity and litter size criteria (LP) and (2) selected for litter size at weaning (V) were used. Females were subjected to three different reproductive efforts: post-partum (PP) mating at first lactation and 9 kits during the second; post-weaning (PW) mating at first lactation and 9 kits during the second; and PW mating at first lactation and 5 kits during the second. At second weaning (30 days PP), an acute response was induced by intravenous infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LP females seemed to be lower affected during the hyper-acute phase than V females, showing lower plasma glucose content at 1.5 h post infusion (pi) and rectal temperature at 6 h pi; and showed higher ulterior immune response, with higher levels of C-reactive protein at 48 h pi and haptoglobin in plasma from 24 h pi. Survival test conferred a higher risk of culling for V than for LP females during the first hours after challenge. These results may suggest that, regarding immune response to LPS challenge, foundation by hyper-longevity productive criteria lead to obtain a more robust population of rabbit does, characterized by improved response ability. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study has been supported by the Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (CICYT) from the Spanish Government. Grants Number: AGL2011-30170-C02-01; AGL2011-30170-C02-02), is gratefully acknowledged.Ferrian, S.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Larsen, T.; Sánchez Serrano, JP.; Friggens, NC.; Corpa, JM.; Baselga Izquierdo, M.... (2013). Comparison of immune response to lipopolysaccharide of rabbit does selected for litter size at weaning or founded for reproductive longevity. Research in Veterinary Science. 94(3):518-525. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.01.008S51852594

Anisotropy studies around the galactic centre at EeV energies with the Auger Observatory

Data from the Pierre Auger Observatory are analyzed to search for anisotropies near the direction of the Galactic Centre at EeV energies. The exposure of the surface array in this part of the sky is already significantly larger than that of the fore-runner experiments. Our results do not support previous findings of localized excesses in the AGASA and SUGAR data. We set an upper bound on a point-like flux of cosmic rays arriving from the Galactic Centre which excludes several scenarios predicting sources of EeV neutrons from Sagittarius $A$. Also the events detected simultaneously by the surface and fluorescence detectors (the `hybrid' data set), which have better pointing accuracy but are less numerous than those of the surface array alone, do not show any significant localized excess from this direction.Comment: Matches published versio

Structure and function of the kidney: organ physiology

vi+115hlm.;25c

An Application of ARDL Approach

The paper examines the relationship between financial development and income inequality; and also explores if the Greenwood and Jovianvich (GJ) hypothesis applies to Pakistan. Using data from 1971 to 2005, the paper implements the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration to examine the existence of long run; and the error correction model (ECM) for the short run relationships. Stationarity properties of the series are checked by the ADF method. The findings indicate that financial development reduces income inequality while financial instability aggravates it. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, we find economic growth worsens income distribution and that the latter is deteriorated further by trade openness. The paper does not find support for the GJ relation. Appropriate reforms aimed at developing a well-organized financial sector in Pakistan can help reduce income inequality

Follow-up in women with breast cancer: the patients' perspective

We surveyed the opinions of patients on routine follow-up for early breast cancer to assess their satisfaction with current breast cancer follow-up arrangements, establish the issues that are important to patients in this setting and to assess their opinions on different models of care in breast cancer follow-up. A self-completion questionnaire was issued to 134 women attending an outpatient breast cancer follow-up clinic at a central teaching hospital in Glasgow. Most women (84%) considered follow-up ‘important’ and 90% were satisfied with current follow-up practice. Almost all patients (91%) were content with both the current frequency and duration of their appointments. Risk of recurrence and effects of treatment were considered the most important topics for discussion. Two-thirds of patients felt it was important to see the same member of staff at each follow-up appointment. The majority (64%) would have been satisfied with a nurse-led system of follow-up, whereas only 38% would be happy with General Practitioner-led care. Although patients are generally satisfied with current follow-up arrangements, most would accept the involvement of specialist nurses in conjunction with a consultant

Risk scores for predicting outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy: The RENAAL study

Diabetic nephropathy is the most important cause of ESRD. The aim of this study was to develop a risk score from risk predictors for ESRD, with and without death, in the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) study and to compare ability of the ESRD risk score and its components to predict ESRD. The risk score was developed from coefficients of independent risk factors from multivariate analysis of baseline variables and equals (1.96 X log [urinary albumin:creatinine ratio]) - (0.78 serum albumin [g/dl]) + (1.28 X serum creatinine [mg/dl] - (0.11 X hemoglobin [g/dl]). It was robust with respect to severity of nephropathy, gender, race, and treatment group. The risk score for ESRD or death was comparable. The four risk predictors for progression of kidney disease were independent of therapy. For combined treatment groups, the hazard ratio between the fourth and first quartiles of the ESRD risk score was 49.0, as compared with the corresponding hazard ratios for each component: 14.7 for urinary albumin:creatinine ratio, 9.2 for serum creatinine, 5.5 for hemoglobin, and 10.2 for serum albumin. The RENAAL risk scores for ESRD with or without death emphasize the importance of identification of level of albuminuria, serum albumin, serum creatinine, and hemoglobin to predict development of ESRD in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. Although albuminuria is a strong risk factor for ESRD, the contribution of serum albumin, serum creatinine, and hemoglobin level further enhances prediction of ESRD. Future trials with a similar patient population and outcomes measures should consider adjusting analyses for baseline risk factor