26 research outputs found
Comparison of metabolic, oxidative and inflammatory status of Simmental Ă Holstein crossbred with parental breeds during the peripartal and early lactation periods.
AbstractThe aim of the research reported in this paper was to evaluate plasma concentrations of energy, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers of Simmental (sire) Ă Holstein (dam) crossbred cows, in comparison with the two parental breeds during the peripartal and early lactation periods and to estimate the effects of heterosis for these traits. Thirty-three animals, managed under the same conditions, 8 Simmental (SI), 9 Holstein (HO) and 16 crossbred (CR) cows were enrolled in this study. Glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), ÎČ-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), total protein, albumin, creatinine and urea were determined in blood sampled at six different time points (30 ± 3 and 15 ± 3 d before the expected calving date, at calving and 15, 30 and 60 d after calving). Furthermore, derived reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) were determined to evaluate inflammatory and oxidative status. Results showed that the CR group had significantly lower average values of glucose and NEFA when compared to HO group; signifcantly lower values of urea than SI group and significantly higher values of creatinine than HO. Furthermore, CR cows showed the lowest average value of d-ROMs with respect to SI and HO parental breeds. Finally, the average value of haptoglobin was significantly lower in CR and HO groups, when compared to SI group. As for the heterosis we found the highest (positive) percentage for CK (98%) and BAP (47%) and the lowest (negative) percentage for OSi (â75%) and d-ROMs (â39%). A negative percentage was also found for the glucose (â11%) and NEFA (â20%) toward the Simmental parental breed. Our results suggest a different response among the three genetic groups during the peripartal and early lactation periods. In particular, CR and SI cows seem more adaptable regarding energy metabolism and oxidative status. Heterosis led to a positive effect on those parameters in Simmental (sire) Ă Holstein (dam) crossbred cows F1 population (50% Simmental and 50% Holstein)
Effect of olive by-products feed supplementation on physicochemical and microbiological profile of Provola cheese
IntroductionWith the purpose to evaluate the effects of dietary olive cake, a source of bioactive phenolic compounds, as feed supplementation of lactating dairy cows on fatty acid composition, volatile organic compounds, and microbiological profiles of Provola cheese, we performed a two-arm study where control and experimental administered cows derived dairy have been compared.MethodsOur panel of analyses include metabolomics, physicochemical detected variables, culture dependent and independent analyses, and a stringent statistical approach aimful at disclosing only statistically significant results.Results and discussionLooking at the physicochemical variableâs profiles, a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and conjugated linoleic acids as well of proteins were observed in experimental cheese samples, indicating the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation. Furthermore, based on volatilome composition, a clear cluster separation between control and experimental cheeses was obtained, mainly related to terpenes degradation, able of influencing their aroma and taste. Microbiological results showed a decrease of some spoilage related microbial groups in experimental cheeses, probably due to the inhibitory effect exerted by polyphenols compounds, that contrarily did not affect the core taxa of all cheese samples. This paper confirmed the promising utilization of olive by-product in farming practices to obtain more sustainable and safe dairy food products with lower environmental impact, mainly in Sicily and Mediterranean area, where waste disposal poses serious environmental and economic problems
Relationship between low Ankle-Brachial Index and rapid renal function decline in patients with atrial fibrillation: A prospective multicentre cohort study
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) and renal function progression in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
DESIGN: Observational prospective multicentre cohort study.
SETTING:Atherothrombosis Center of I Clinica Medica of 'Sapienza' University of Rome; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of University Magna GrĂŠcia of Catanzaro; Atrial Fibrillation Registry for Ankle-Brachial Index Prevalence Assessment-Collaborative Italian Study.
PARTICIPANTS: 897 AF patients on treatment with vitamin K antagonists.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between basal ABI and renal function progression, assessed by the estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) calculated with the CKD-EPI formula at baseline and after 2â
years of follow-up. The rapid decline in eGFR, defined as a decline in eGFR >5â
mL/min/1.73â
m(2)/year, and incident eGFR<60â
mL/min/1.73â
m(2) were primary and secondary end points, respectively.
RESULTS: Mean age was 71.8±9.0â
years and 41.8% were women. Low ABI (ie, â€0.90) was present in 194 (21.6%) patients. Baseline median eGFR was 72.7â
mL/min/1.73â
m(2), and 28.7% patients had an eGFR60â
mL/min/1.73â
m(2), 153 (23.9%) had a reduction of the eGFR <60â
mL/min/1.73â
m(2). ABI â€0.90 was also an independent predictor for incident eGFR<60â
mL/min/1.73â
m(2) (HR 1.851, 95% CI 1.205 to 2.845, p=0.005).
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AF, an ABI â€0.90 is independently associated with a rapid decline in renal function and incident eGFR<60â
mL/min/1.73â
m(2). ABI measurement may help identify patients with AF at risk of renal function deterioration
Trout GH promoter analysis reveals a modular pattern of regulation consistent with the diversification of GH gene control and function in vertebrates
In vertebrates, growth hormone (GH) gene expression requires the pituitary-specific transcription factor Pit-1/GHF1 but is differently regulated by a variety of factors in different vertebrate species. Here, we have studied the transcriptional activity of the trout GH (tGH) promoter, which is synergistically stimulated by cAMP and glucocorticoid. Gel shift assays indicated that Pit-1 binds as a dimer to three high affinity sites in the -226/+24 tGH region, and that recombinant cAMP response element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB) binds to a CRE situated between the two distal Pit-1 sites. Deletional and mutational transfection experiments, performed in pituitary Pit-1-expressing GC cells, showed that the different Pit-1 sites play distinct roles and are obligatory elements in the mechanisms mediating cAMP and glucocorticoid responses. Remarkably, the results suggest a hierarchical modular model of regulation of the tGH promoter, according to which a critical module, triggered by Pit-1 bound to the proximal Pit-1 site, is necessary and sufficient to turn on and drive basal levels of transcription. The latter may be stimulated synergistically by two Pit-1-dependent reciprocally non-cooperative auxiliary modules, activated by cAMP and glucocorticoid, respectively. Such modularity explains, in evolutionary terms, the crucial role played by Pit-1 in transcriptional activation and the emergence of the wide variety of mechanisms regulating transcriptional levels of GH, prolactin and other Pit-1-target genes in vertebrates
Traditional risk factor and nighttime diastolic blood pressure predict cardiovascular events in prehypertensives
Traditional risk factor and nighttime diastolic blood pressure predict cardiovascular events in prehypertensives
Effect of olive by-products feed supplementation on physicochemical and microbiological profile of Provola cheese
Introduction: With the purpose to evaluate the effects of dietary olive cake, a source of bioactive phenolic compounds, as feed supplementation of lactating dairy cows on fatty acid composition, volatile organic compounds, and microbiological profiles of Provola cheese, we performed a two-arm study where control and experimental administered cows derived dairy have been compared.
Methods: Our panel of analyses include metabolomics, physicochemical detected variables, culture dependent and independent analyses, and a stringent statistical approach aimful at disclosing only statistically significant results.
Results and discussion: Looking at the physicochemical variableâs profiles, a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and conjugated linoleic acids as well of proteins were observed in experimental cheese samples, indicating the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation. Furthermore, based on volatilome composition, a clear cluster separation between control and experimental cheeses was obtained, mainly related to terpenes degradation, able of influencing their aroma and taste. Microbiological results showed a decrease of some spoilage related microbial groups in experimental cheeses, probably due to the inhibitory effect exerted by polyphenols compounds, that contrarily did not affect the core taxa of all cheese samples. This paper confirmed the promising utilization of olive by-product in farming practices to obtain more sustainable and safe dairy food products with lower environmental impact, mainly in Sicily and Mediterranean area, where waste disposal poses serious environmental and economic problems
Effects of Pegvisomant on left ventricular mass in refractroy acromegalic patients: a 4 years follow-up observational study
Effects of Pegvisomant on left ventricular mass in refractroy
acromegalic patients: a 4 years follow-up observational study
Moroni Carlo et al.; Cuore e Grossi Vasi, Endocrinologia, âSapienzaâ UniversitĂ di Roma
Objective: Since morpho-functional bi-ventricular impairment (i.e. left
ventricular hypertrophy, LVH) is described in Acromegalic patients (pts),
the effects of medical and surgical treatments have been previously examined.
Pegvisomant (PegV) is a GH receptor antagonist, indicated for acromegalic
pts with unsuccessful surgical, radiation, and/or medical treatments,
with the goal of obtaining normal IGF-1 serum levels. Aim of this
observational study is to evaluate the effect of PegV on left ventricular
structure.
Methods: We evaluated seven consecutive pts (4 males, mean age was
50.1SD 9.8 years), with active acromegaly, eligible to PegV treatment
(mean disease duration before PegV: 8 years ± 3.2) by means of a 4 yy
clinical and instrumental follow-up. Starting from 10 mg daily, PegV was
titrated to reach the expected levels of IGF-1 for sex and age. All patients
underwent to transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) yearly from acromegaly
diagnosis; in our study we considered the following TTE results: 2 years
before starting PegV (T -2), at the enrolment for PegV therapy (T0) and,
respectively, after two and four years of treatment (T2, T4). We compared
left ventricular dimensions, geometry (LVEDD: left ventricle end-diastolic
diameter; RWT: relative wall thickness) and mass (LVM and LVM index ,
expressed as g/h2.7). Students t test for paired data was used. Results: At
six months therapy all pts normalized IGF-1 levels, which remained stable
during the whole follow up. LVM and LVMi were significantly higher at T0
when compared with T-2 (before PegV: p< 0.05 for both) whereas significantly
lower at T+2 (after 2 yy PegV therapy: p<0.05 vs T0 for both). The
improvement trend was confirmed after 4 years PegV treatment (p<0.05 vs
T0 and vs T+2 for both).
Conclusions: In our study, successful PegV treatment (involving IGF-1
serum level normalization) seems to be effective in inducing a significant
LV mass reduction, whereas previous treatments showed no effect (Fig.1).
The observed LVM reduction after PevG treatment could play a role in improving
the cardiovascular prognosis of hypertrophic acromegalic patients
The natural history of prehypertension. a 20-year follow-up
OBJECTIVE:According to the JNC7 report, prehypertension category includes subjects with systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mmHg that would be at risk for developing hypertension and its untoward sequelae as myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease. Moreover, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring made it possible to detect subjects with masked hypertension, who are at risk of greater target organ damage than those with normal ambulatory or home blood pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of cardiac, cerebral and vascular events in a group of prehypertensive subjects, with and without masked hypertension.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:We studied 204 consecutive asymptomatic prehypertensive subjects without history and signs of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. All the subjects underwent clinical evaluation, electrocardiogram, routine laboratory tests and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. They were followed-up for a maximum of 237 months or until a cardiovascular event occurred.
RESULTS:Twenty-seven cardiovascular events (13.2%) occurred, including 4 abdominal aortic aneurysms. Age (p<0.0001), total cholesterol (p=0.004), smoking (p=0.03) and clinically overt hypertension development (p=0.011) were related to cardiovascular events. Prognosis was not related to masked hypertension.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that, in subjects with prehypertension, followed for 20 years, traditional cardiovascular risk factors and development of clinically overt hypertension could be more relevant than ambulatory hypertension in the prediction of an adverse outcome