Identification and characterization of dairy cows with different backfat thickness antepartum in relation to postpartum loss of backfat thickness: a cluster analytic approach

The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the interindividual variation in the relationship between antepartum (ap) backfat thickness (BFT) and subsequent BFT loss during early lactation in a large dairy herd using cluster analysis; (2) to compare the serum concentrations of metabolites (nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate), metabolic hormones (leptin and adiponectin), and an inflammatory marker (haptoglobin) among the respective clusters; and (3) to compare lactation performance and uterine health status in the different clusters. An additional objective was (4) to investigate differences in these serum variables and in milk yield of overconditioned (OC) cows that differed in the extent of BFT loss. Using data from a large study of 1,709 multiparous Holstein cows, we first selected those animals from which serum samples and BFT results (mm) were available at d 25 (±10) ap and d 31 (±3 d) postpartum (pp). The remaining 713 cows (parity of 2 to 7) were then subjected to cluster analysis: different approaches based on the BFT of the cows were performed. K-means (unsupervised machine learning algorithm) clustering based on BFT-ap alone identified 5 clusters: lean (5–8 mm BFT, n = 50), normal (9–12 mm, n = 206), slightly fat (SF; 13–16 mm, n = 203), just fat (JF; 16–22 mm, n = 193), and very fat (VF; 23–43 mm, n = 61). Clustering by difference between BFT-ap and BFT-pp (ΔBFT) also revealed 5 clusters: extreme loss (17–23 mm ΔBFT, n = 16), moderate loss (9–15 mm, n = 119), little loss (4–8 mm, n = 326), no loss (0–3 mm, n = 203), and gain (−8 to −1 mm, n = 51). Based on the blood variables measured, our results confirm that cows with greater BFT losses had higher lipid mobilization and ketogenesis than cows with less BFT loss. The serum variables of cows that gained BFT did not differ from normal cows. Milk yield was affected by the BFT-ap cluster, but not by the ΔBFT cluster. Cows categorized as VF had lesser milk yield than other clusters. We further compared the OC cows that had little or no BFT loss (i.e., 2% of VF, 12% of JF, and 31% of SF, OC-no loss, n = 85) with the OC cows that lost BFT (OC-loss, n = 135). Both NEFA and BHB pp concentrations and milk yield were greater in OC-loss cows compared with the OC-no loss cows. The serum concentration of leptin ap was greater in OC-loss than in the OC-no loss cows. Overall, OC cows lost more BFT than normal or lean cows. However, those OC cows with a smaller loss of BFT produced less milk than OC cows with greater losses

The rapid spread of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant in Italy reflected early through wastewater surveillance

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged in South Africa in November 2021, and has later been identified worldwide, raising serious concerns. A real-time RT-PCR assay was designed for the rapid screening of the Omicron variant, targeting characteristic mutations of the spike gene. The assay was used to test 737 sewage samples collected throughout Italy (19/21 Regions) between 11 November and 25 December 2021, with the aim of assessing the spread of the Omicron variant in the country. Positive samples were also tested with a real-time RT-PCR developed by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), and through nested RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Overall, 115 samples tested positive for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant. The first occurrence was detected on 7 December, in Veneto, North Italy. Later on, the variant spread extremely fast in three weeks, with prevalence of positive wastewater samples rising from 1.0% (1/104 samples) in the week 5–11 December, to 17.5% (25/143 samples) in the week 12–18, to 65.9% (89/135 samples) in the week 19–25, in line with the increase in cases of infection with the Omicron variant observed during December in Italy. Similarly, the number of Regions/Autonomous Provinces in which the variant was detected increased from one in the first week, to 11 in the second, and to 17 in the last one. The presence of the Omicron variant was confirmed by the JRC real-time RT-PCR in 79.1% (91/115) of the positive samples, and by Sanger sequencing in 66% (64/97) of PCR amplicons. In conclusion, we designed an RT-qPCR assay capable to detect the Omicron variant, which can be successfully used for the purpose of wastewater-based epidemiology. We also described the history of the introduction and diffusion of the Omicron variant in the Italian population and territory, confirming the effectiveness of sewage monitoring as a powerful surveillance tool

Brief Report of Preliminary Outcomes of an Emotion Regulation Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2446-1Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with comorbid psychopathology including problems with emotion regulation. The goal of the present research was to investigate the feasibility of a multicomponent manualized cognitive behavior therapy treatment program for improving emotion regulation in youth with ASD 8 to 12 years of age. Thirteen males and their parents participated in the intervention, reporting high satisfaction with the activities and program overall, and attending all sessions. Preliminary outcomes regarding emotion regulation and psychopathology, and feasibility of the intervention, are summarized and discussed.Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research (#RN284208; Canadian Institutes of Health Research in partnership with NeuroDevNet, Sinneave Family Foundation, CASDA, Autism Speaks Canada and Health Canada) and seed funding from the Spectrum of Hope Autism Foundatio

Awareness and preventive practices on colon cancer of selected barangays in General Trias, Cavite.

This study used a descriptive-correlational research. The respondents of the study were residents of General Trias, Cavite with age of 40 years old and above and not have been diagnosed with colon cancer. Based on the criteria, 393 respondents qualified on the study. The study used quota sampling. The survey was accomplished using a self-made questionnaire based on the book Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine by Hong et al. (2010) which undergone content validation. The statistical measurements used in the study were the following: frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), t-test for independent means and Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient. In conclusion, the study revealed that the level of awareness of the respondents on colon cancer was revealed as low level of awareness. Specifically, the lowest mean was recorded on the following items of awareness: (a) person that have been diagnosed with colon cancer or other cancer that may develop cancer in the future; (b) consumption of red meat and processed food can cause colon cancer; (c) signs and symptoms of colon cancer such as blood, change in bowel habit and abdominal pain. In the preventive practices on colon cancer, it was revealed that the overall preventive practice of the respondents is seldom done. Item analysis revealed that having cancer screening at age 40 years old and above, undergoing colonoscopy examination, having fecal occult blood test, undergoing digital rectal examination and undergoing flexible sigmoidoscopy examination are not practiced by majority of the respondents

Targeting of PBP1 by β-lactams determines recA/SOS response activation in heterogeneous MRSA clinical strains.

The SOS response, a conserved regulatory network in bacteria that is induced in response to DNA damage, has been shown to be associated with the emergence of resistance to antibiotics. Previously, we demonstrated that heterogeneous (HeR) MRSA strains, when exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of oxacillin, were able to express a homogeneous high level of resistance (HoR). Moreover, we showed that oxacillin appeared to be the triggering factor of a β-lactam-mediated SOS response through lexA/recA regulators, responsible for an increased mutation rate and selection of a HoR derivative. In this work, we demonstrated, by selectively exposing to β-lactam and non-β-lactam cell wall inhibitors, that PBP1 plays a critical role in SOS-mediated recA activation and HeR-HoR selection. Functional analysis of PBP1 using an inducible PBP1-specific antisense construct showed that PBP1 depletion abolished both β-lactam-induced recA expression/activation and increased mutation rates during HeR/HoR selection. Furthermore, based on the observation that HeR/HoR selection is accompanied by compensatory increases in the expression of PBP1,-2, -2a, and -4, our study provides evidence that a combination of agents simultaneously targeting PBP1 and either PBP2 or PBP2a showed both in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy, thereby representing a therapeutic option for the treatment of highly resistant HoR-MRSA strains. The information gathered from these studies contributes to our understanding of β-lactam-mediated HeR/HoR selection and provides new insights, based on β-lactam synergistic combinations, that mitigate drug resistance for the treatment of MRSA infections

Bone mass density in post-menopausal women

To evaluate the effect of age, years since menopause and body weight on bone mass density (BMD) in 283 patients. Bone mass density was assessed by bone computerized mineralometry at two sites of the forearm. The mean distal BMD and ultra BMD in the postmenopausal group were negatively correlated with age (P < 0.001, r = -0.48 and P < 0.001, r = -0.50, respectively) and years since menopause (P < 0.001, r = -0.32 and P < 0.001, r = -0.33, respectively). When body-mass index was regressed against distal and ultra distal BMD, positive correlations were found (P = 0.008 and P = 0.007). From our data, forearm computerized mineralometry seems to be a reliable method for the evaluation of the effects of age and body-mass index on bone mass

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SA13011-HeR <i>recA</i>-lacZ (LMR21) to antimicrobial agents used in the study.

<p>Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SA13011-HeR <i>recA</i>-lacZ (LMR21) to antimicrobial agents used in the study.</p

Treatment effect using <i>Galleria mellonella</i>.

<p>Groups of larvae (10/group) were inoculated with either 10 µl of PBS (uninfected control group; A) or bacterial suspension containing 1.5×10⁶ CFU/ml of 13011-HoR (B–D) into the last proleg and incubated for 2 h at 37C. After this, 10 µl of IMP (10 mg/kg), NAF (5 mg/kg; B), CTX (10 mg/kg; C), BAL (5 mg/kg; D), or the corresponding IMP/β-lactam were administered (time 0) into the right hind-most proleg, and re-incubated for 24 h at 37°C. PBS treatment was given as a control with multiple injections. The treatment was repeated after the first 24 h incubation. Worms were checked daily and recorded for any deaths for a total of 10 days. A minimum of three independent experimental runs were performed for each experiment. Survival data were plotted using the Kaplan-Meir method.</p

Time-course analysis of growth (A) and rate of DNA replication (B) was performed in SA13011-HeR −/+ OXA (0.5 µg/ml) during β-lactam-induced HeR/HoR selection.

<p>Bacteria were grown −/+ OXA (0.5 µg/ml) overnight. Cultures without OXA (HeR) were then diluted to an optical density at 600 nm (OD₆₀₀) equivalent to the culture growing with OXA (HoR) and continued to grow at 37°C with shaking. (B) Both SA13011-HeR/-HoR cultures were supplemented with the radioactive methyl-[3H]-thymine precursor (1 µCi/ml); triplicates samples were removed at different time-intervals and collected for DNA extraction, eluted and transferred to Whatman paper filters; after drying, radioactivity was measured by liquid scintillation. Values represent the means of three biological replicates ± standard error of the mean (SEM), sampled in triplicate to minimize error by inter- and intra-samples, respectively.</p