Feeding Different Iodine Sources to Dairy Cows: Effects on Colostrum Production and Growth and Health of Their Calves

Limited research exists on supplementing seaweeds to prepartum cows and its effects on colostrum production and development of their calves in-utero and after birth. The high iodine (I) concentration of seaweeds is concerning, and previous research have shown that excess I supplementation to ewes inhibits immunoglobulin G (IgG) absorption in their lambs. The objectives of this study were: (1) evaluate the effects of incremental amounts of Ascophyllum nodosum (ASCO) meal supplementation (0, 57, and 113 g/d) to prepartum cows on colostrum production and subsequent growth, health, and blood concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), and thyroid hormones (TH) of their offspring after birth, and (2) compare ASCO meal versus a common I source [i.e., ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDDI)] on the same variables under objective 1. Forty Holstein dairy cows were blocked by lactation number and expected calving date and assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments included: (1) EDDI supplemented to meet the National Research Council (NRC) 2001-recommended concentration of I [i.e., 0.5 mg I/kg of dry matter intake (DMI); control diet (CON)], CON plus 57 g/d of ASCO meal [low level (LO)], CON plus 113 g/d of ASCO meal [high level (HI)], and CON plus EDDI (124.8 mg/d) supplemented to match the amount of I provided by HI (EDDI diet). Iodine sources were top-dressed and manually mixed into the total-mixed ration (TMR) daily. Single degree freedom contrasts were used to statistically analyze the effects of adding incremental amounts of ASCO meal to the diet, as well as to compare HI versus EDDI.Within approximately 1 h of calving, colostrum was harvested from cows and weighed. Colostrum was analyzed for fat, protein, total solids, I, and IgG. Forty-one calves averaging (mean ± standard deviation) 43. 9 ± 4.54 kg body weight (BW) were assigned to their dams’ respective treatments and blocks, but they did not receive ASCO meal or EDDI. Calves remained on the study for (mean ± standard deviation) 56 ± 5 d. At birth, all calves were fed 750 g [dry matter (DM) basis] of colostrum replacer (CR), followed by 700 g CR 6 h after birth. At 24 h old, calves were offered 338 g (DM basis) of milk replacer (MR) (25% crude protein, 16% fat) twice daily until their final 7 d on experiment, where they were offered 338 g of MR once daily to facilitate weaning. Free choice textured starter (28% CP) and water were offered at 24 h of life until completion of the study. Blood samples were collected at 0 h and 24 h of age for IgG and TH analyses, and for TH at d 14, 28, and 56. Blood samples were taken weekly starting at wk 1 for BHB analysis. On d 5 of life, a xylose challenge was conducted by supplementing 0.5 g/kg BW of D-xylose in the MR, with blood samples taken before (0 h) and after D-xylose administration at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma xylose and glucose concentrations as proxies for absorption in the small intestine. Weekly measurements were recorded for BW, withers height, hip height, body length, heart girth, and hip width. Treatments did not affect colostrum yield, as well as protein, total solids, I, and IgG concentrations. Fat concentration of colostrum was greater in HI than EDDI cows, and there was a tendency for fat concentration in colostrum to decrease linearly with ASCO meal supplementation. However, colostrum fat yield was not changed. Treatments had no effect on intake of calf starter, MR, or total DM intake, and average daily gain (ADG) or feed efficiency. Heart girth, body length, and hip width were similar across treatments. Initial BW was greater in HI compared with EDDI calves, and BW tended to decrease linearly with the addition of ASCO meal. Weekly hip height and final withers height tended to be greater in HI versus EDDI calves. Final hip height and weekly withers height were greater in HI than EDDI calves. Plasma concentration of weekly total T4 responded quadratically to ASCO meal supplementation, with the lowest concentration occurring with the LO treatment. Weekly total T4/T3 ratio had a tendency to follow the same response as total T4. All other TH (total T3, and free T3, and T4) were unaffected by treatments. All calves obtained the minimum serum IgG recommendation for passive transfer (\u3e10 g/L), and both 0 and 24 h serum IgG were not affected by treatments. However, there was a tendency for apparent efficiency of absorption to be lower in EDDI versus HI calves. Plasma concentration of weekly BHBA and final plasma BHBA responded quadratically to ASCO meal supplementation, with the lowest concentrations seen with LO. During the xylose challenge calves did not differ in D-xylose absorption; however, glucose absorption decreased linearly with ASCO meal supplementation. Overall, addition of ASCO meal to the dams’ diet did not negatively impact calf growth and metabolism or colostrum production and composition

The Past, Present, and Future of Fire and Ponderosa Pine Stand Dynamics in the Metolius Research Natural Area, Central Oregon

The Metolius Research Natural Area (RNA), located 29 km northwest of Sisters, Oregon, was originally established in 1931 to maintain a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. Ex Laws) and dry, mixed-conifer forest with the aim to meet objectives of preserving natural conditions, providing for research opportunities, and preserving gene pools of certain plants and animals via intact natural disturbance processes. Historically, frequent fire was a keystone natural disturbance in central Oregon and the Metolius RNA. However, with European settlement in the late 1800s and the creation of the US Forest Service in the early 1900s came organized wildland fire suppression efforts. These efforts have been highly effective at excluding fire from the landscape for over a century. Fire-deficit has been shown to cause a variety of stand alterations for actively managed forests including shifts in density, structure, composition, and fuel loading that can be detrimental to the resistance, resilience, and overall function of the stand. Since the Metolius RNA is part of a landscape where fires historically were expansive and returned frequently we assumed that the Metolius RNA also burned frequently and that fire was a keystone disturbance process here prior to European settlement. Further, we questioned if stand conditions were truly natural despite a fire deficit of more than a century. We sought to validate our assumption and quantify current versus historical stand conditions via reconstructing historical fire frequency and historical stand conditions using dendrochronology methods for a 4.5ha permanent research plot. We also discuss the future of the Metolius RNA with population growth rates from 1981-2016 and modeled fire behavior and tree mortality and compare the fuel loading and modeled fire behavior and mortality to a representative, established fuel model, Scott & Burgan TL8 (2005). We found that fire returned to the plot on average every 9.5 years from 1613-1898, and that stand characteristics have greatly deviated from estimated 1898 conditions. Further, with the population growth rates from 1981-2016 and the model fire behavior and mortality, we suggest that the stand is in decline and at risk of high-severity disturbance. If meeting the objectives of the Metolius RNA and minimizing risk to high-severity disturbances is desired, we suggest one-time mechanical treatment followed by repeated prescribed fire to restore natural conditions and intact natural disturbance processes

Hydraulic permeability and compressive properties of porcine and human synovium

The synovium is a multilayer connective tissue separating the intra-articular spaces of the diarthrodial joint from the extra-synovial vascular and lymphatic supply. Synovium regulates drug transport into and out of the joint, yet its material properties remain poorly characterized. Here, we measured the compressive properties (aggregate modulus, Young\u27s modulus, and Poisson\u27s ratio) and hydraulic permeability of synovium with a combined experimental-computational approach. A compressive aggregate modulus and Young\u27s modulus for the solid phase of synovium were quantified from linear regression of the equilibrium confined and unconfined compressive stress upon strain, respectively (

A Systematic Analysis of Cell Cycle Regulators in Yeast Reveals That Most Factors Act Independently of Cell Size to Control Initiation of Division

Upstream events that trigger initiation of cell division, at a point called START in yeast, determine the overall rates of cell proliferation. The identity and complete sequence of those events remain unknown. Previous studies relied mainly on cell size changes to identify systematically genes required for the timely completion of START. Here, we evaluated panels of non-essential single gene deletion strains for altered DNA content by flow cytometry. This analysis revealed that most gene deletions that altered cell cycle progression did not change cell size. Our results highlight a strong requirement for ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis for initiation of cell division. We also identified numerous factors that have not been previously implicated in cell cycle control mechanisms. We found that CBS, which catalyzes the synthesis of cystathionine from serine and homocysteine, advances START in two ways: by promoting cell growth, which requires CBS's catalytic activity, and by a separate function, which does not require CBS's catalytic activity. CBS defects cause disease in humans, and in animals CBS has vital, non-catalytic, unknown roles. Hence, our results may be relevant for human biology. Taken together, these findings significantly expand the range of factors required for the timely initiation of cell division. The systematic identification of non-essential regulators of cell division we describe will be a valuable resource for analysis of cell cycle progression in yeast and other organisms

2016 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1003/thumbnail.jp

ST6GAL1-mediated aberrant sialylation promotes prostate cancer progression.

Aberrant glycosylation is a universal feature of cancer cells, and cancer-associated glycans have been detected in virtually every cancer type. A common change in tumour cell glycosylation is an increase in α2,6 sialylation of N-glycans, a modification driven by the sialyltransferase ST6GAL1. ST6GAL1 is overexpressed in numerous cancer types, and sialylated glycans are fundamental for tumour growth, metastasis, immune evasion, and drug resistance, but the role of ST6GAL1 in prostate cancer is poorly understood. Here, we analyse matched cancer and normal tissue samples from 200 patients and verify that ST6GAL1 is upregulated in prostate cancer tissue. Using MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS), we identify larger branched α2,6 sialylated N-glycans that show specificity to prostate tumour tissue. We also monitored ST6GAL1 in plasma samples from >400 patients and reveal ST6GAL1 levels are significantly increased in the blood of men with prostate cancer. Using both in vitro and in vivo studies, we demonstrate that ST6GAL1 promotes prostate tumour growth and invasion. Our findings show ST6GAL1 introduces α2,6 sialylated N-glycans on prostate cancer cells and raise the possibility that prostate cancer cells can secrete active ST6GAL1 enzyme capable of remodelling glycans on the surface of other cells. Furthermore, we find α2,6 sialylated N-glycans expressed by prostate cancer cells can be targeted using the sialyltransferase inhibitor P-3FAX -Neu5Ac. Our study identifies an important role for ST6GAL1 and α2,6 sialylated N-glycans in prostate cancer progression and highlights the opportunity to inhibit abnormal sialylation for the development of new prostate cancer therapeutics. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Upregulation of GALNT7 in prostate cancer modifies O-glycosylation and promotes tumour growth.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and it is estimated that over 350,000 men worldwide die of prostate cancer every year. There remains an unmet clinical need to improve how clinically significant prostate cancer is diagnosed and develop new treatments for advanced disease. Aberrant glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer implicated in tumour growth, metastasis, and immune evasion. One of the key drivers of aberrant glycosylation is the dysregulated expression of glycosylation enzymes within the cancer cell. Here, we demonstrate using multiple independent clinical cohorts that the glycosyltransferase enzyme GALNT7 is upregulated in prostate cancer tissue. We show GALNT7 can identify men with prostate cancer, using urine and blood samples, with improved diagnostic accuracy than serum PSA alone. We also show that GALNT7 levels remain high in progression to castrate-resistant disease, and using in vitro and in vivo models, reveal that GALNT7 promotes prostate tumour growth. Mechanistically, GALNT7 can modify O-glycosylation in prostate cancer cells and correlates with cell cycle and immune signalling pathways. Our study provides a new biomarker to aid the diagnosis of clinically significant disease and cements GALNT7-mediated O-glycosylation as an important driver of prostate cancer progression

Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo

Meeting Abstracts: Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo Clearwater Beach, FL, USA. 9-11 June 201

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Phragmites australis in South Dakota: Historical Distribution and Environment

Common reed, Phragmites australis, has long been a component of Northern Plains wetlands, but impending invasion by the non-native P. australis haplotype M may displace native haplotypes in the future. To increase understanding of historical Phragmites occurrence, we developed a geographic information system (GIS) protocol to improve the georeferencing of specimens from South Dakota herbaria, and mapped the distribution of Phragmites relative to geology, physiographic regions, and water bodies. There were 91 Phragmites herbarium specimens from South Dakota and adjacent Wyoming. Phragmites collections occurred in nearly all physiographic regions of the state, with concentrations occurring in the Prairie Coteau of eastern South Dakota and the periphery of the Black Hills in western South Dakota. GIS analysis showed that the Black Hills Phragmitescollection sites occurred in the “Red Valley” overlying the Spearfish bedrock formation. Phragmites usually occurred on wetlands or lakes in eastern South Dakota; Phragmites in unglaciated western South Dakota usually occurred on creeks and stock dams. There was no evidence of a recent increase in Phragmites collections. Because native Phragmites probably occurs throughout South Dakota, weed control practitioners should verify that Phragmites stands are of the non-native haplotype before implementing control measures