Effects of Supplemental Mannanoligosaccharides on Growth Performance, Faecal Characteristics and Health in Dairy Calves

Twenty Holstein calves were used to investigate the effects of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) supplementation in the whole milk on growth performance, faecal score, faecal pH, selected faecal bacterial populations and health during the preweaning period. Healthy calves selected by clinical examination were allocated to one of the two groups (control [CG] and experimental [EG]) at 5 days old. Each group consisted of 5 male and 5 female calves. Each calf in EG was supplemented with 7 g/d of a MOS product (Celmanax) from 5 days to 56 days of age. MOS supplement was mixed with the whole milk once in the morning and administered to the calves in EG via nipple bottle, whereas the calves in CG were fed the whole milk without MOS. Calves were weaned at 56 days of age. The final body weight, average daily weight gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were statistically similar (p>0.05) but were higher by 3.70%, 6.66%, and 10.97%, respectively, in MOS than in control calves. Feed efficiency (ADG/ADFI) was also similar in two calves group. While faecal scores did not differ on day 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 49, and 56 between groups, EG had a higher faecal score (p = 0.05) than CG on day 35. Faecal concentration of Lactobacillus was lower (p0.05) in faecal concentrations of Bifidobacterium, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichia coli were found between groups. Although there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the incidence of diarrhoea, treatment days for diarrhoea and the costs associated with diarrhoea treatments between groups, collectively, the observed reductions in treatment days and the cost of diarrhoea treatments accompanying increases in final body weight, ADG and ADFI for EG may indicate potential benefit of MOS in treatment of diarrhoea

Original Article Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, fibroblast growth factor 2, phosphatidyl inositol 3 phosphate kinase and their clinical and prognostic significance in early and advanced stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Abstract: Aim: Non-small cell lung carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer related to death in the world. Squamous cell lung carcinoma (SqCLC) is the second most frequent histological subtype of lung carcinomas. Recently, growth factors, growth factor receptors, and signal transduction system-related gene amplifications and mutations are extensively under investigation to estimate the prognosis and to develop individualized therapies in SqCLC. In this study, besides the signal transduction molecule phosphatidyl inositol-3-phosphate kinase (IP3K) p110α, we explored the expressions of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and receptor-1 (FGFR1) in tumor tissue and also their clinical and prognostic significance in patients with early/advanced SqCLC. Materials and methods: From 2005 to 2013, 129 patients (23 early, 106 advanced disease) with a histopathological SqCLC diagnosis were selected from the hospital files of Cukurova University Medical Faculty for this study. Two independent pathologists evaluated FGFR1, FGF2, and PI3K (p110α) expressions in both tumor and stromal tissues from 99 of the patients with sufficient tissue samples, using immunohistochemistry. Considering survival analysis separately for patients with both early and advanced stage diseases, the relationship between the clinical features of the patients and expressions were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: FGFR1 expression was found to be low in 59 (60%) patients and high in 40 (40%) patients. For FGF2; 12 (12%) patients had high, 87 (88%) patients had low expression and for IP3K; 31 (32%) patients had high and 66 (68%) patients had low expressions. In univariate analysis, overall survival (OS) was significantly associated with stage of the disease and the performance status of the patient (P<0.0001 and P<0.001). There was no significant difference in OS of the patients with either low or high expressions of FGFR1, FGF2, and IP3K. When the patients with early or advanced stage disease were separately taken into consideration, the relationship did not differ, either. Any of FGFR1, FGF2 or IP3K expressions was not found predictive for the treatment of early or advanced staged patients. On the other hand, the expressions of both FGFR1 and FGF2 were significantly different with respect to smoking, scar of tuberculosis and scar of radiotherapy (P=0.002; P=0.06 and P=0.05, respectively). Discussion: There has not been identified an effective individualized treatment for SqCLC yet. Therefore, in order to be able to develop such a treatment in the future, it is essential to identify the genetic abnormalities that are responsible for the biological behaviors and carcinogenesis of SqCLC. Although we could not show the prognostic and predictive significance of FGFR1, FGF2 and IP3K expressions in SqCLC, we determined the expression rates of FGFR1, FGF2 and IP3K as a reference for Turkish patients. In conclusion, we want to put some emphasis on the fact that, pulmonary fibrosis which is a late complication of radiotherapy at stage III disease, and the scar of tuberculosis could be associated with FGFR1 and FGF2 expressions

Impaired amino acid transport at the blood brain barrier is a cause of autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of genetic disorders often overlapping with other neurological conditions. We previously described abnormalities in the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolic pathway as a cause of ASD. Here, we show that the solute carrier transporter 7a5 (SLC7A5), a large neutral amino acid transporter localized at the blood brain barrier (BBB), has an essential role in maintaining normal levels of brain BCAAs. In mice, deletion of Slc7a5 from the endothelial cells of the BBB leads to atypical brain amino acid profile, abnormal mRNA translation, and severe neurological abnormalities. Furthermore, we identified several patients with autistic traits and motor delay carrying deleterious homozygous mutations in the SLC7A5 gene. Finally, we demonstrate that BCAA intracerebroventricular administration ameliorates abnormal behaviors in adult mutant mice. Our data elucidate a neurological syndrome defined by SLC7A5 mutations and support an essential role for the BCAA in human brain function

COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology centers in Turkey

Background/aim: There is limited data on COVID-19 disease in children with kidney disease. We aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology patients in Turkey. Materials and methods: This was a national, multicenter, retrospective cohort study based on an online survey evaluating the data between 11th March 2020 and 11th March 2021 as an initial step of a detailed pediatric nephrology COVID-19 registry. Results: Two hundred and three patients (89 girls and 114 boys) were diagnosed with COVID-19. One-third of these patients (36.9%) were between 10–15 years old. Half of the patients were on kidney replacement therapy: kidney transplant (KTx) recipients (n = 56, 27.5%), patients receiving chronic hemodialysis (n = 33, 16.3%) and those on peritoneal dialysis (PD) (n = 18, 8.9%). Fifty-four (26.6%) children were asymptomatic. Eighty-two (40.3%) patients were hospitalized and 23 (28%) needed intensive care unit admission. Fifty-five percent of the patients were not treated, while the remaining was given favipiravir (20.7%), steroid (16.3%), and hydroxychloroquine (11.3%). Acute kidney injury developed in 19.5% of hospitalized patients. Five (2.4%) had MIS-C. Eighty-three percent of the patients were discharged without any apparent sequelae, while 7 (3.4%) died. One hundred and eight health care staff were infected during the study period. Conclusion: COVID-19 was most commonly seen in patients who underwent KTx and received HD. The combined immunosuppressive therapy and frequent exposure to the hospital setting may increase these patients’ susceptibility. Staff infections before vaccination era were alarming, various precautions should be taken for infection control, particularly optimal vaccination coverage

Fingolimod Alters Tissue Distribution and Cytokine Production of Human and Murine Innate Lymphoid Cells

Sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) is expressed by lymphocytes and regulates their egress from secondary lymphoid organs. Innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family has been expanded with the discovery of group 1, 2 and 3 ILCs, namely ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3. ILC3 and ILC1 have remarkable similarity to CD4+ helper T cell lineage members Th17 and Th1, respectively, which are important in the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Whether human ILC subsets express S1PR1 or respond to its ligands have not been studied. In this study, we used peripheral blood/cord blood and tonsil lymphocytes as a source of human ILCs. We show that human ILCs express S1PR1 mRNA and protein and migrate toward S1P receptor ligands. Comparison of peripheral blood ILC numbers between fingolimod-receiving and treatment-free MS patients revealed that, in vivo, ILCs respond to fingolimod, an S1PR1 agonist, resulting in ILC-penia in circulation. Similarly, murine ILCs responded to fingolimod by exiting blood and accumulating in the secondary lymph nodes. Importantly, ex vivo exposure of ILC3 and ILC1 to fingolimod or SEW2871, another S1PR1 antagonist, reduced production of ILC3- and ILC1- associated cytokines GM-CSF, IL-22, IL-17, and IFN-γ, respectively. Surprisingly, despite reduced number of lamina propria-resident ILC3s in the long-term fingolimod-treated mice, ILC3-associated IL-22, IL-17A, GM-CSF and antimicrobial peptides were high in the gut compared to controls, suggesting that its long term use may not compromise mucosal barrier function. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the impact of fingolimod on human ILC subsets in vivo and ex vivo, and provides insight into the impact of long term fingolimod use on ILC populations

Development of visual-spatial ability test (VSAT) for primary school children: ıts reliability and validity

The purpose of the present research is to develop a visual-spatial ability test (VSAT) for primary school children. Visual-spatial abilities allow processing of information about an object in terms of shape, colour, texture, perspective, and rotation. The visual-spatial test includes items-tasks for the participants to process information about texture, colour, shape and perspective. A total of 196 primary school children participated in the research. The data were analysed through Rasch analysis and item-response theory. Findings proved that VSAT yields reliable and valid results for assessing the visual-spatial ability of primary school children

New scaling of theory of mind tasks: Where can the intentional aspect be scaled?

The purpose of the research is to develop a new theory of mind tasks, test its reliability and validity, and scale the intentional aspect of theory of mind. The study was designed as survey research, one of the quantitative research traditions. One hundred and fifty-eight children whose age ranged between 4 and 10 years were included in the research sample through quota sampling. Data were dichotomous so Rasch analysis was used to analyse the data. As result of Rasch analysis, it was found that the separation index is 7; reliability coefficient is 98; and the battery of the theory of mind task has robust model fit based on RMSE, infit mean-square and outfit mean-square. Difficulty analysis indicated that false belief tasks and real vs. disclosed intention are the hardest tasks, while diverse desires, implicit false beliefs, and diverse beliefs are the easiest tasks in the battery

Sıçanlarda Pentilentetrazol Kindlingde Cichorium Intybus’un GABAA reseptörleri ve apoptoz üzerine etkileri

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the effects of Cichorium intybus (CI) on apoptosis and GABA(A) receptor density in the brains of rats in pentyleneterazole induced kindling. Methods: The rats were divided into three groups: Control group, pentylenetetrazol administered (PTZ) group, and PTZ+CI extract administered (PTZ+CI) group. Control group received only physiological saline (0.5 ml). PTZ (35 mg/kg) injected to the animals in the PTZ and PTZ+CI groups. The CI extract (200 mg/kg) was also administered to the PTZ+CI group. A 75 mg/kg challenge dose of PTZ was administrated to the PTZ treated groups, on the 12th injection. Results: A significant increase was found in the number of neurons expressing the GABA(A) receptor in the brain tissue (hippocampus and cerebral cortex) of the PTZ group when compared to the control. The density of GABA(A) receptor of the neurons in the cerebral cortex significantly increased in PTZ administered groups compared to the control.The number of apoptotic neurons was found non-significant between groups in the brain. Conclusion: CI treatment prolonged the onset of the first seizure activity and seizure latency at a convulsive dose, and kept the number of GABA(A) receptors close to that of the control in the hippocampus.Amaç: Bu çalışma, pentileterazole indüklü kindlingte, Cichorium intybus’un sıçanların beyinlerinde apoptoz ve GABAA reseptör yoğunluğu üzerindeki etkilerini belirlemek için tasarlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Sıçanlar üç gruba ayrıldı: Kontrol grubu, pentilentetrazol uygulanan (PTZ) grup ve PTZ + Cichorium intybus ekstresi (PTZ + CI) uygulanan grup. Kontrol grubu sadece serum fizyolojik (0.5 ml) aldı. PTZ ve PTZ + CI gruplarındaki hayvanlara PTZ (35 mg/kg) enjekte edildi. PTZ + CI grubuna ayrıca CI ekstraktı da (200 mg/kg) uygulandı. PTZ uygulanan gruplara 12. enjeksiyonda 75 mg/kg’lık bir PTZ dozu uygulandı. Bulgular: PTZ grubunun beyin dokusunda (hipokampus ve tüm beyin) GABAA reseptörünü ifade eden nöronların sayısında kontrole göre önemli bir artış bulundu. Tüm beyindeki nöronların GABAA reseptör yoğunluğu, kontrol grubuna kıyasla PTZ uygulanan gruplarda önemli ölçüde artmıştır. Beyindeki apoptotik nöronların sayısı gruplar arasında anlamsız bulundu. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, Cichorium intybus uygulması, konvülsif dozda ilk nöbet aktivitesi oluşumu ve nöbet latansını geciktirdi ve hipokampusta GABAA reseptörlerinin sayısını kontrole yakın tuttu.Yuzuncu Yıl University, Department of Scientific Researc