Cocoa-flavanols enhance moderate-intensity pulmonary [Formula: see text] kinetics but not exercise tolerance in sedentary middle-aged adults.

INTRODUCTION: Cocoa flavanols (CF) may exert health benefits through their potent vasodilatory effects, which are perpetuated by elevations in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. These vasodilatory effects may contribute to improved delivery of blood and oxygen (O2) to exercising muscle. PURPOSE: Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine how CF supplementation impacts pulmonary O2 uptake ([Formula: see text]) kinetics and exercise tolerance in sedentary middle-aged adults. METHODS: We employed a double-blind cross-over, placebo-controlled design whereby 17 participants (11 male, 6 female; mean ± SD, 45 ± 6 years) randomly received either 7 days of daily CF (400 mg) or placebo (PL) supplementation. On day 7, participants completed a series of 'step' moderate- and severe-intensity exercise tests for the determination of [Formula: see text] kinetics. RESULTS: During moderate-intensity exercise, the time constant of the phase II [Formula: see text] kinetics ([Formula: see text]) was decreased by 15% in CF as compared to PL (mean ± SD; PL 40 ± 12 s vs. CF 34 ± 9 s, P = 0.019), with no differences in the amplitude of [Formula: see text] (A[Formula: see text]; PL 0.77 ± 0.32 l min-1 vs. CF 0.79 ± 0.34 l min-1, P = 0.263). However, during severe-intensity exercise, [Formula: see text], the amplitude of the slow component ([Formula: see text]) and exercise tolerance (PL 435 ± 58 s vs. CF 424 ± 47 s, P = 0.480) were unchanged between conditions. CONCLUSION: Our data show that acute CF supplementation enhanced [Formula: see text] kinetics during moderate-, but not severe-intensity exercise in middle-aged participants. These novel effects of CFs, in this demographic, may contribute to improved tolerance of moderate-activity physical activities, which appear commonly present in daily life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT04370353, 30/04/20 retrospectively registered

Adrenal suppression: A practical guide to the screening and management of this under-recognized complication of inhaled corticosteroid therapy

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the most effective anti-inflammatory agents available for the treatment of asthma and represent the mainstay of therapy for most patients with the disease. Although these medications are considered safe at low-to-moderate doses, safety concerns with prolonged use of high ICS doses remain; among these concerns is the risk of adrenal suppression (AS). AS is a condition characterized by the inability to produce adequate amounts of the glucocorticoid, cortisol, which is critical during periods of physiological stress. It is a proven, yet under-recognized, complication of most forms of glucocorticoid therapy that can persist for up to 1 year after cessation of corticosteroid treatment. If left unnoticed, AS can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. More than 60 recent cases of AS have been described in the literature and almost all cases have involved children being treated with ≥500 μg/day of fluticasone

Functional genomics of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (Linnaeus, 1758)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The horn fly, <it>Haematobia irritans </it>(Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) is one of the most important ectoparasites of pastured cattle. Horn flies infestations reduce cattle weight gain and milk production. Additionally, horn flies are mechanical vectors of different pathogens that cause disease in cattle. The aim of this study was to conduct a functional genomics study in female horn flies using Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) analysis and RNA interference (RNAi).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A cDNA library was made from whole abdominal tissues collected from partially fed adult female horn flies. High quality horn fly ESTs (2,160) were sequenced and assembled into 992 unigenes (178 contigs and 814 singlets) representing molecular functions such as serine proteases, cell metabolism, mitochondrial function, transcription and translation, transport, chromatin structure, vitellogenesis, cytoskeleton, DNA replication, cell response to stress and infection, cell proliferation and cell-cell interactions, intracellular trafficking and secretion, and development. Functional analyses were conducted using RNAi for the first time in horn flies. Gene knockdown by RNAi resulted in higher horn fly mortality (protease inhibitor functional group), reduced oviposition (vitellogenin, ferritin and vATPase groups) or both (immune response and 5'-NUC groups) when compared to controls. Silencing of ubiquitination ESTs did not affect horn fly mortality and ovisposition while gene knockdown in the ferritin and vATPse functional groups reduced mortality when compared to controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results advanced the molecular characterization of this important ectoparasite and suggested candidate protective antigens for the development of vaccines for the control of horn fly infestations.</p

Minimum inhibitory concentrations of equine Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates (1996-2012).

BackgroundFew studies report the minimum inhibitory concentrations for antimicrobials against equine Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates.Hypothesis/objectivesTo evaluate trends in the in vitro activities of 20 antimicrobials against equine Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates from 1996 to 2012 and to determine if a relationship exists between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and location of the abscess.AnimalsCorynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates from 196 horses with naturally occurring disease.MethodsRetrospective and cross-sectional design. Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical and MIC data. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by the microdilution technique. The MIC results over 3 periods were compared (1996-2001, 2002-2006, 2007-2012).ResultsThe MIC90 values for clinically relevant antimicrobials were as follows: chloramphenicol ≤ 4 μg/mL, enrofloxacin ≤ 0.25 μg/mL, gentamicin ≤ 1 μg/mL, penicillin =0.25 μg/mL, rifampin ≤ 1 μg/mL, tetracycline ≤ 2 μg/mL, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS) ≤ 0.5 μg/mL, ceftiofur =2 μg/mL, and doxycycline ≤ 2 μg/mL. There were no significant changes in MIC results over the study period. There was no relationship between MIC patterns and abscess location.Conclusions and clinical importanceThe MIC50 and MIC90 values of antimicrobials evaluated in this study for equine isolates of C. pseudotuberculosis did not vary over time. Abscess location was not associated with different MIC patterns in cultured isolates. Several commonly used antimicrobials are active in vitro against C. pseudotuberculosis in vitro

Minimum inhibitory concentrations of equine Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates (1996-2012).

BackgroundFew studies report the minimum inhibitory concentrations for antimicrobials against equine Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates.Hypothesis/objectivesTo evaluate trends in the in vitro activities of 20 antimicrobials against equine Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates from 1996 to 2012 and to determine if a relationship exists between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and location of the abscess.AnimalsCorynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates from 196 horses with naturally occurring disease.MethodsRetrospective and cross-sectional design. Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical and MIC data. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by the microdilution technique. The MIC results over 3 periods were compared (1996-2001, 2002-2006, 2007-2012).ResultsThe MIC90 values for clinically relevant antimicrobials were as follows: chloramphenicol ≤ 4 μg/mL, enrofloxacin ≤ 0.25 μg/mL, gentamicin ≤ 1 μg/mL, penicillin =0.25 μg/mL, rifampin ≤ 1 μg/mL, tetracycline ≤ 2 μg/mL, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS) ≤ 0.5 μg/mL, ceftiofur =2 μg/mL, and doxycycline ≤ 2 μg/mL. There were no significant changes in MIC results over the study period. There was no relationship between MIC patterns and abscess location.Conclusions and clinical importanceThe MIC50 and MIC90 values of antimicrobials evaluated in this study for equine isolates of C. pseudotuberculosis did not vary over time. Abscess location was not associated with different MIC patterns in cultured isolates. Several commonly used antimicrobials are active in vitro against C. pseudotuberculosis in vitro

Behavioral and physiological responses of weaned foalstreated with equine appeasing pheromone: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial

Weaning, particularly the widespread practice of abrupt separation of the mare and foal, has been shown to be a stressful event for horses. Physiological changes in foals measured after weaning include increased blood cortisol concentrations and a subsequent decrease in cell-mediated immune responses. In the randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial reported here, we assessed the effect of an equine appeasing pheromone (EAP; Modipher EQ, E.A.P. Mist [Pherosynthese s.n.c., LeRieu Neuf, Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt, France]) as an aid for reducing the behavioral and physiological signs of stress during weaning. Fourteen quarter horse foals were separated from their dam (equid mother) between 105 and 146 days of age, in age-matched pairs, and placed in 3.66×3.66m stalls (one treated and one control foal in each stall). Treated foals received the synthetic analogue of the EAP by intranasal wipe 30 minutes before separation and twice daily thereafter for 48 hours. Control foals received placebo by intranasal wipe on the same schedule. The foals were continuously videotaped for 48 hours postweaning to monitor behavioral responses. Blood samples were drawn 24 hours pretreatment and 24 and 48 hours postweaning for evaluation of physiological indicators of stress (serum cortisol) and cytokines as stress-related and immune-mediated response parameters. Interestingly, although behavioral and serum cortisol measures were similar between groups, treatment with EAP had a significant (P&lt;0.05) effect on interleukin 6 and transforming growth factor β, whereas monocyte opiate receptor 1 was significantly upregulated in both groups independent of treatment when compared with baseline values. Although the link between EAP treatment and activation of the measured cytokines remains unexplained, our findings suggest immune-related gene transcription focused on the acute causes of stress in a time frame shortly after weaning. © 2013 Elsevier Inc