Evaluation of Absorbezz on Swine Reproductive Health and A Comparative Study of Two Commercially Available Swine Show Feeds

The efficacy of a feed supplement fed to gilts and sows was tested in study I. The supplement was stated to improve reproductive soundness, conception rates, immune health, and overall well-being of livestock. Thirty gilts were split into a control group (Base diet) and a treatment group (Absorbezz® 0.32 mL on base diet). Upon completion of the trial results indicate the treatment group significantly underperformed ( Two commercially available show pig growing rations were tested in study II to find a high quality, cost efficient product. A total of 10 pigs (5 barrows, 5 gilts), at an average weight of 60 lbs., were fed to market weight, with data recorded for feed efficiency and carcass quality. No significant differences (\u3c 0.05) were discovered between the two rations. A larger sample size could adjust results

Who Is Eating Most of the Zooplankton in the Oceanic Gulf of Mexico? The Impact of Mesopelagic Fishes

Deep-sea pelagic fishes are the most abundant vertebrates on Earth, yet their role in the overall economy of these is poorly known. Low latitude oligotrophic regimes, typified by the eastern Gulf of Mexico, constitute most of the world ocean and consequently support the largest global ecosystems. Thus, we have little information on the trophic role of most of Earth\u27s vertebrates. To address this, the diets of an entire midwater fish assemblage (164 species, constituting \u3e 99% of assemblage numbers) were analyzed to assess feeding guilds and predation impact. Zooplanktivory was the dominant feeding mode (80% of prey biomass taken), followed by piscivory. However, the entire fish assemblage predation impact on zooplankton was only 5-10% of daily production. This points to critical limitations in our understanding of how tropical - subtropical regimes, the largest of global ecosystems, function and which taxonomic groups are the most important zooplanktivores. Regarding the latter, the obvious candidate is other zooplankton, including large gelatinous predators

Detection of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus DNA Products in Lytic Versus Latent Infection, Including Early Reverse Transcription, Intermediate Reverse Transcription, and Late Circle Junctions

Dean's Undergraduate Research AwardHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and other lentiviruses have developed latency as one mechanism to evade the host immune response. As a consequence, a subset of these viruses life-long latency, effectively preventing the eradication of HIV-1 infection. Two types of latency have been proposed: pre-integration and post-integration latency. In pre-integration latency, the pre-integration complex (PIC) composed of newly formed viral DNA, integrase, Vpr, and matrix protein, is prevented from entering the nucleus by host cellular factors. In post-integration latency, the PIC migrates to the nucleus and integrates into the genomic DNA, where it remains as dormant provirus for an indefinite period of time. We recently reported that mucosal administration of low dose cell-associated feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) (102 and 103 infected cells) promotes viral latency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and tissue lymphocytes that can be reactivated by in vitro cell stimulation. The current study investigates the type of infection occurring in high- or low-dose cell-associated FIV groups using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Blood and tissue samples were analyzed for three different DNA products of FIV infection. Early stage products of reverse transcriptase (163 bp), intermediate stage products (542 bp), as well as late circle junction products (967 bp) of FIV were seen in high-dose groups (104~106 infected cells) whereas early reverse transcription products were the only, or primary, form detected in low-dose groups (102~103 infected cells). This is consistent with the development of viral latency in cats challenged with low numbers of infected cells. Because we identified early transcripts in samples from latently infected cats, our findings support one of two theories. (1) Transport of the pre-integration complex into the nucleus is inhibited resulting in pre-integration latency. (2) Late transcription is impaired resulting in post-integration latency. Our data provides evidence that latent infection occurs following mucosal exposure to low-dose FIV and raises the concern that some individuals exposed to low amounts of HIV may also become latently infected. This work helps to focus further investigations into the mechanisms of lentiviral latency.Dean's Undergraduate Research Awar

Ertapenem-Induced Encephalopathy in a Patient With Normal Renal Function

Drug-induced neurotoxicity is a rare adverse reaction associated with ertapenem. Encephalopathy is a type of neurotoxicity that is defined as a diffuse disease of the brain that alters brain function or structure. We report a patient with normal renal function who developed ertapenem-induced encephalopathy manifesting as altered mental status, hallucinations, and dystonic symptoms. The patient’s symptoms improved dramatically following ertapenem discontinuation, consistent with case reports describing ertapenem neurotoxicity in renal dysfunction. Since clinical evidence strongly suggested ertapenem causality, we utilized the Naranjo Scale to estimate the probability of an adverse drug reaction to ertapenem. Our patient received a Naranjo Scale score of 7, suggesting a probable adverse drug reaction, with a reasonable temporal sequence to support our conclusion

Space radiation: The number one risk to astronaut health beyond low earth orbit

Projecting a vision for space radiobiological research necessitates understanding the nature of the space radiation environment and how radiation risks influence mission planning, timelines and operational decisions. Exposure to space radiation increases the risks of astronauts developing cancer, experiencing central nervous system (CNS) decrements, exhibiting degenerative tissue effects or developing acute radiation syndrome. One or more of these deleterious health effects could develop during future multi-year space exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). Shielding is an effective countermeasure against solar particle events (SPEs), but is ineffective in protecting crew members from the biological impacts of fast moving, highly-charged galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) nuclei. Astronauts traveling on a protracted voyage to Mars may be exposed to SPE radiation events, overlaid on a more predictable flux of GCR. Therefore, ground-based research studies employing model organisms seeking to accurately mimic the biological effects of the space radiation environment must concatenate exposures to both proton and heavy ion sources. New techniques in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and other “omics” areas should also be intelligently employed and correlated with phenotypic observations. This approach will more precisely elucidate the effects of space radiation on human physiology and aid in developing personalized radiological countermeasures for astronauts

Clostridium tertium Peritonitis and Concurrent Bacteremia in a Patient With a History of Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a recognized cause of morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Enterobacteriaceae have been isolated from the majority of peritonitis cases and the gram negative aerobe Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated organism. Anaerobic organisms are rarely isolated because of the high oxygen tension in ascetic fluid. We report a patient with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis who developed SBP and concurrent bacteremia with the anaerobe Clostridium tertium. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics and was discharged home on oral ciprofloxacin. This case report is unique in that it is the fourth documented Clostridium tertium SBP case, utilized MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for organism identification, and susceptibility testing for select antibiotics was performed