Evaluation of potential biomarkers to determine adequate colostrum provision in male dairy-beef calves upon arrival at the rearing facility beyond 14 days of age

Colostrum consumption is crucial for passive immunization and development of the newborn calf. However, the incidence on failed transfer of passive immunity in male calves destined to dairy-beef production remains high to date. In addition, the lack of an automated procedure to validate the immunization status upon arrival at rearing facilities in calves beyond 14 d of age impedes the identification of failed transfer of passive immunity, and therefore, of those calves at high risk of suffering diseases. For this study, 82 newborn male Holstein calves (43.3 ± 0.86 kg of body weight; mean ± standard error) from a commercial dairy farm were used to investigate potential serum biomarkers of colostrum provision. The potential biomarkers selected were IgG, IgG1, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and total protein (TP). Treatments were as follows: high-colostrum (HC; n = 49), in which calves received 4 L of colostrum within the first 2 h after birth and 2 L of colostrum in the next 3 feedings within the first 24 h after birth, for a total of 10 L of colostrum; and low-colostrum (LC; n = 33), in which calves received only 2 L of colostrum within the first 2 h after birth. After colostrum consumption, calves were allocated to individual hutches and fed 2 L of milk replacer twice daily at a concentration of 125 g/L as fed. Starter feed and water were offered ad libitum. At approximately 14 d of age (14.2 ± 0.81 d of age; mean ± standard error) calves were transported 2.5 h to a research unit at IRTA (Torre Marimon, Spain) simulating the arrival to a rearing facility. Blood samples were collected before feeding at birth, 48 h after birth, and at arrival to the rearing facility. Results on the serum concentrations of the potential biomarkers at arrival to the rearing facility showed that IgG, IgG1, GGT, and TP were greater for the HC calves compared with the LC calves. Serum concentrations of cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase did not show differences between treatment groups. Additionally, body weight losses from birth until arrival to the rearing facility were greater for the LC treatment compared with the HC. Because of their low cost, quickness, and ease of measurement, GGT and TP were good indicators of colostrum intake in calves arriving at rearing facilities beyond 14 d of age.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Lung myofibroblasts are characterized by down-regulated cyclooxygenase-2 and its main metabolite, prostaglandin E2.

Background: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the main metabolite of cyclooxygenase (COX), is a well-known anti-fibrotic agent. Moreover, myofibroblasts expressing a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), fibroblast expansion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are critical to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Our aim was to investigate the expression of COX-2 and PGE2 in human lung myofibroblasts and establish whether fibroblast-myofibroblast transition (FMT) and EMT are associated with COX-2 and PGE2 down-regulation. Methods: Fibroblasts obtained from IPF patients (n = 6) and patients undergoing spontaneous pneumothorax (control,n = 6) and alveolar epithelial cell line A549 were incubated with TGF-b1 and FMT and EMT markers were evaluated. COX-2 and a-SMA expression, PGE2 secretion and cell proliferation were measured after IL-1b and PGE2 incubation. Results: Myofibroblasts from both control and IPF fibroblast cultures stimulated with IL-1b showed no COX-2 expression. IPF fibroblasts showed increased myofibroblast population and reduced COX-2 expression in response to IL-1b. TGF-b1 increased the number of myofibroblasts in a time-dependent manner. In contrast, TGF-b1 induced slight COX-2 expression at 4 h (without increase in myofibroblasts) and 24 h, but not at 72 h. Both IPF and control cultures incubated with TGF-b1 for 72 h showed diminished COX-2 induction, PGE2 secretion and a-SMA expression after IL-1b addition. The latter decreased proliferation in fibroblasts but not in myofibroblasts. A549 cells incubated with TGF-b1 for 72 h showed downregulated COX-2 expression and low basal PGE2 secretion in response to IL-1b. Immuno-histochemical analysis of IPF lung tissue showed no COX-2 immuno-reactivity in myofibroblast foci. Conclusions: Myofibroblasts are associated with COX-2 down-regulation and reduced PGE2 production, which could be crucial in IPF development and progression

On the activity of the γ -Ursae Minorids meteoroid stream in 2010 and 2011

Accurate orbital data obtained for the recently discovered γ -Ursae Minorids meteoroid stream during the 2010 and 2011 Spanish Meteor Network and Finnish Fireball Network observing ampaigns are presented. In particular, we focus on an outburst detected in 2010 and on the analysis of the first emission spectrum recorded for a member of this meteoroid stream. An array of high-sensitivity CCD video devices operating from different locations in Spain and Finland was used to perform this study. We have obtained precise trajectory, radiant and orbital information for seven members of this stream. Considerations about its likely parent body based on orbital dissimilarity criteria are made. We also present an estimation of the tensile strength for these meteoroids and a unique emission spectrum of a γ -Ursae inorid fireball that reveals that the main rocky components have chondritic abundances.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación AYA2009-13227, AYA2009-14000-C03-01, AYA2011-26522, AYA2011-30106-C02-01CSIC #201050I043Junta de Andalucía P09-FQM-455

Low prostaglandin E2 and cyclooxygenase expression in nasal mucosa fibroblasts of aspirin-intolerant asthmatics.

Background and objective: Anomalies in the regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and-2 have been described in nasal polyps of aspirin-induced asthma (AIA). Whether these anomalies are specific to nasal polyps or affect all the nasal mucosa (NM) of upper airways is still unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the COX pathway in NM of AIA patients with the NM of control subjects. Methods: Fibroblasts were isolated from NM of 5 AIA patients (AIA-NM) and 5 control subjects (control-NM). Cells were treated with 10 ng/ml IL-1b for up to 72 hours. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was measured by ELISA, expression of COX-1 protein by Western blot, and COX-2 protein by ELISA, Western blot and immunofluorescence techniques. Results: IL-1b increased PGE2 production and COX-1 protein expression in control-NM fibroblasts, but no changes were found in AIA-NM. IL-1b provoked a significant timedependent increase in COX-2 protein expression in control-NM fibroblasts but had a very mild effect on COX-2 protein expression in AIA-NM. Conclusions: Our data suggest that abnormalities in the COX pathway are not a phenomenon exclusive to nasal polyp mucosa as they are also present in all the nasal mucosa of AIA patients. These anomalies may be involved in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation and NSAID intolerance in asthma patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis

Molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoids action: implications for treatment of rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis

Intra-nasal glucocorticoids are the most effective drugs available for rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis treatment. Their effectiveness depends on many factors and not all of them have been well recognized so far. The authors present the basic information on molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid action, direct and indirect effects of glucocorticoids on transcription of genes encoding inflammatory mediators. They focus on recently proved nongenomic mechanisms which appear quickly, from several seconds to minutes after glucocorticoid administration and discuss clinical implications resulting from this knowledge. Discovery of nongenomic glucocorticoid actions allows for better use of these drugs in clinical practice

The 2011 October Draconids outburst. I. Orbital elements, meteoroid fluxes and 21P/Giacobini-Zinner delivered mass to Earth

On October 8th, 2011 the Earth crossed the dust trails left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner during its XIX and XX century perihelion approaches with the comet being close to perihelion. The geometric circumstances of that encounter were thus favorable to produce a meteor storm, but the trails were much older than in the 1933 and 1946 historical encounters. As a consequence the 2011 October Draconid display exhibited several activity peaks with Zenithal Hourly Rates of about 400 meteors per hour. In fact, if the display had been not forecasted, it could have passed almost unnoticed as was strongly attenuated for visual observers due to the Moon. This suggests that most meteor storms of a similar nature could have passed historically unnoticed under unfavorable weather and Moon observing conditions. The possibility of obtaining information on the physical properties of cometary meteoroids penetrating the atmosphere under low-geocentric velocity encounter circumstances motivated us to set up a special observing campaign. Added to the Spanish Fireball Network wide-field all-sky and CCD video monitoring, other high-sensitivity 1/2" black and white CCD video cameras were attached to modified medium-field lenses for obtaining high resolution orbital information. The trajectory, radiant, and orbital data of 16 October Draconid meteors observed at multiple stations are presented. The results show that the meteors appeared from a geocentric radiant located at R.A.=263.0+-0.4 deg. and Dec.=+55.3+-0.3 deg. that is in close agreement with the radiant predicted for the 1873-1894 and the 1900 dust trails. The estimated mass of material from 21P/Giacobini-Zinner delivered to Earth during the six-hours outburst was around 950+-150 kg.Comment: Manuscript in press in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, submitted to MNRAS on November 16th, 2012 Accepted for publication in MNRAS on April 28th, 2013 Manuscript Pages: 21 Tables: 8 Figures: 4 Manuscript associated: "The 2011 October Draconids outburst. II. Meteoroid chemical abundances from fireball spectroscopy" by J.M. Madiedo is also in press in the same journa

Towards a DNA-vaccine against African swine fever: an ongoing effort

Trabajo presentado en el 6th International Symposium on Emerging and Re-emerging pig Diseases, celebrado en Barcelona (España) del 12 al 15 de julio de 2011

DNA and Inflammatory Mediators in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid From Children With Acute Inhalational Injuries:

Assess the feasibility of using serial bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) to characterize the course of cell damage and inflammation in airways of pediatric patients with acute burn or inhalation injury