Constraints to ruminant production in East Mamprusi District of Ghana

A study was designed to identify species-specific constraints to ruminant production as perceived by animal owners in East Mamprusi District. The hypothesis was that the constraints to production as perceived by sheep, goat and cattle farmers were sufficiently different to warrant species-specific strategies being recommended. A total of 516 ruminant owners were chosen from the 10 agricultural zones of the district using a multistage sampling technique. They were interviewed using a questionnaire with open-ended and closed questions. A total of 496 completed questionnaires were acceptable, comprising 32.9 per cent sheep owners, 36.7 per cent goat owners, and 30.4 per cent cattle owners. The response rate was 96 per cent. The study showed that the background or perceptions of sheep, goat and cattle owners differed significantly (

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 localizes to the mitochondria and modulates mitophagy

The signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are latent transcription factors that have been shown to be involved in cell proliferation, development, apoptosis, and autophagy. STAT proteins undergo activation by phosphorylation at tyrosine 701 and serine 727 where they translocate to the nucleus to regulate gene expression. STAT1 has been shown to be involved in promoting apoptotic cell death in response to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion and has recently been shown by our laboratory to be involved in negatively regulating autophagy. These processes are thought to promote cell death and restrict cell survival leading to the generation of an infarct. Here we present data that shows STAT1 localizes to the mitochondria and co-immunoprecipitates with LC3. Furthermore, electron microscopy studies also reveal mitochondria from ex vivo I/R treated hearts of STAT1KO mice contained within a double membrane autophagosome indicating that STAT1 may be involved in negatively regulating mitophagy. This is the first description of STAT1 being localized to the mitochondria and also having a role in mitophagy

Depression and risk factors for depression among mothers of sick infants in Kumasi, Ghana

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of and risk factors for depression in a high‐risk population of mothers of ill newborns in Ghana.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with women who had a hospitalized newborn at a tertiary teaching hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Surveys included information on maternal demographics, pregnancy and delivery, interpersonal violence, and social support. Postpartum depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)‐9. Bivariable analysis was conducted using analysis of variance, χ2, and Fisher exact tests; multivariable analysis was performed using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsIn total, 153 women completed the survey. Fifty (32.7%) had PHQ‐9 scores of 5–9, indicating mild depression; 42 (27.4%) had PHQ‐9 scores of 10–14, indicating moderate depression; and 15 (9.8%) had scores of 15 or higher, indicative of moderate/severe depression. History of interpersonal violence with current partner predicted depression.ConclusionMothers of sick infants in Ghana are at high risk for symptoms of clinical depression. This is of critical importance because maternal depression affects infant health outcomes and may be particularly important for mothers of sick infants.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135602/1/ijgo228.pd

Selective chemical probe inhibitor of Stat3, identified through structure-based virtual screening, induces antitumor activity

S31-201 (NSC 74859) is a chemical probe inhibitor of Stat3 activity, which was identified from the National Cancer Institute chemical libraries by using structure-based virtual screening with a computer model of the Stat3 SH2 domain bound to its Stat3 phosphotyrosine peptide derived from the x-ray crystal structure of the Stat3 beta homodimer. S31-201 inhibits Stat3-Stat3 complex formation and Stat3 DNA-binding and transcriptional activities. Furthermore, S31-201 inhibits growth and induces apoptosis preferentially in tumor cells that contain persistently activated Stat3. Constitutively climerized and active Stat3C and Stat3 SH2 domain rescue tumor cells from S31-201-induced apoptosis. Finally, S31-201 inhibits the expression of the Stat3-regulated genes encoding cyclin D1, BcI-xL, and survivin and inhibits the growth of human breast tumors in vivo. These findings strongly suggest that the antitumor activity of S31-201 is mediated in part through inhibition of aberrant Stat3 activation and provide the proof-of-concept for the potential clinical use of Stat3 inhibitors such as S31-201 in tumors harboring aberrant Stat3

Salmonella in commercial swine from weaning through slaughter

Sixty swine on each of four farms in Iowa and on four farms in North Carolina were monitored for Salmonella, from weaning through kill. 1\vo farms in each state used ali-in-allout (AIAO) management, while two were continuous flow. All pigs were individually identified, in North Carolina with ear tags and in Iowa with implanted microchips. Feces for culture and serum for Danish mixELISA were collected at weaning and approximately every eight weeks, with the fourth collection coming within 48 hours of slaughter. At slaughter, carcasses were swabbed using the FSIS method. Ileocecal lymph nodes, cecum, and/or colon were collected

Necdin, a Negative Growth Regulator, Is a Novel STAT3 Target Gene Down-Regulated in Human Cancer

Cytokine and growth factor signaling pathways involving STAT3 are frequently constitutively activated in many human primary tumors, and are known for the transcriptional role they play in controlling cell growth and cell cycle progression. However, the extent of STAT3's reach on transcriptional control of the genome as a whole remains an important question. We predicted that this persistent STAT3 signaling affects a wide variety of cellular functions, many of which still remain to be characterized. We took a broad approach to identify novel STAT3 regulated genes by examining changes in the genome-wide gene expression profile by microarray, using cells expressing constitutively-activated STAT3. Using computational analysis, we were able to define the gene expression profiles of cells containing activated STAT3 and identify candidate target genes with a wide range of biological functions. Among these genes we identified Necdin, a negative growth regulator, as a novel STAT3 target gene, whose expression is down-regulated at the mRNA and protein levels when STAT3 is constitutively active. This repression is STAT3 dependent, since inhibition of STAT3 using siRNA restores Necdin expression. A STAT3 DNA-binding site was identified in the Necdin promoter and both EMSA and chromatin immunoprecipitation confirm binding of STAT3 to this region. Necdin expression has previously been shown to be down-regulated in a melanoma and a drug-resistant ovarian cancer cell line. Further analysis of Necdin expression demonstrated repression in a STAT3-dependent manner in human melanoma, prostate and breast cancer cell lines. These results suggest that STAT3 coordinates expression of genes involved in multiple metabolic and biosynthetic pathways, integrating signals that lead to global transcriptional changes and oncogenesis. STAT3 may exert its oncogenic effect by up-regulating transcription of genes involved in promoting growth and proliferation, but also by down-regulating expression of negative regulators of the same cellular processes, such as Necdin