CCK concentration and tryptic activity in early stages of finfish larvae

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Interaktionen zwischen dem gastrointestinalen Hormon Cholecystokinin und der Aktivität des pankreatischen Enzyms Trypsin in larvalen Stadien mariner Fischarten untersucht. Die Möglichkeit der Manipulation der larvalen Trypsinaktivität wurde direkt durch die Applikation des Hormons CCK-8s und indirekt durch die Verabreichung des pflanzlichen Proteins phytohemagglutinin (PHA), dass als Stimulans für die CCK Ausschüttung bekannt ist, getestet. Die Behandlung erfolgte durch zwei Verabreichungsmethoden. Larven von Heilbutt und Hering erfuhren einmalige Behandlungen durch in vivo Mikroinjektionen (�micro-tube feeding�) in den larvalen Darm. Eine längere Behandlung wurde an Dorschlarven angewandt, welche täglich in CCK-8s Lösungen verschiedener Konzentrationen gebadet wurden. Daten von Standardlänge, Trockengewicht, CCK Konzentration und Trypsinaktivität wurden von jeder einzelnen Fischlarve erhoben. Der �micro-tube feeding� Applikationstyp wurde als eine geeignete Methode zur Simulation von Einzelfütterungsereignissen in Fischlarven evaluiert. Für Langzeituntersuchungen eignet sich die Behandlung durch wiederholtes Baden in einer Lösung mit dem gewünschten Verabreichungsstoff besser. Zwischen der Entwicklung der CCK Konzentration und der Trypsinaktivität konnte ein Feedback Mechanismus an marinen Fischlarven erstmalig gezeigt werden. Eine einzelne Hormonbehandlung mit CCK-8s reicht aus, um die endogene Trypsinaktivität zu manipulieren. Durch einzelne Mikroinjektionen mit PHA wurde ein stimulierender Effekt auf die CCK Konzentration erreicht, doch möglicherweise bedarf es wiederholter Behandlungen mit diesem Protein, um auch eine erhöhte Trypsinsekretion zu erzielen

Nahrungs- und Futtermittel in der Fischaufzucht

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Nahrungs- oder Futtermittel mit einer Beimengung von Phytohaemagglutinin und/oder von wenigstens einer Isoform einer Phytohaemagglutinin-Untereinheit, insbesondere die Verwendung von Phytohaemagglutinin als Fischfutterzusatz in kommerziellen Brutfuttern zur Unterstützung der Reifung des Verdauungstraktes und damit zur Steigerung der larvalen Verdauungseffizienz. Des Weiteren betrifft sie die Verwendung von Phytohaemagglutinin zur Einsparung von Lebendfutter in der Fischzucht

Accuracy of plasma interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein as markers of sepsis in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum CRP in detecting blood culture proven sepsis in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).Patients and Methods: 140 preterm neonates, 62 with RDS and 78 without RDS, who developed clinical signs of sepsis were prospectively studied. Plasma IL-6 and serum CRP levels were measured. The ROC curves, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated for IL-6 (> 20 pg/mL and > 80 pg/mL) and CRP (> 10 mg/L).Results: Positive blood cultures were found in 64 neonates (37 with RDS and 27 without RDS). Neonates with RDS had higher IL-6 (p 20 pg/mL was 0,93, 0,65 and 2,68, respectively, in neonates without RDS, and 0,92, 0,16 and 1,09, respectively, in neonates with RDS. The sensitivity, specificity and LR of CRP > 10mg/L were 0,86, 0,71 and 2,97, respectively, in neonates without RDS and 0,73, 0,68 and 2,28, respectively, in neonates with RDS.Conclusions: In neonates without RDS both the IL-6 and CRP are equally accurate markers in diagnosing sepsis, whereas in those with RDS the diagnostic value of IL-6 is limited

Worldwide survey of T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance in Thalassaemia

Introduction Thalassaemia major (TM) affects hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide but only a minority have access to regular blood transfusion and chelation therapy. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T2* measurement provides an accurate, reproducible measurement of cardiac iron which is the cause of heart failure and early death in many transfused TM patients. This technique has been adopted as part of routine management in many countries where survival is now approaching normal but little is known about the severity and effects of myocardial iron loading in different geographical regions. Purpose The aim of this study was to describe the burden of disease of myocardial siderosis (measured by T2*) in different populations throughout the world and to assess the relationship between T2* and outcome such as heart failure and cardiac death. Methods 34 worldwide centres were involved in this survey of 3376 patients from Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America, North Africa, Australia and Asia. Anonymised data on myocardial T2* values were analysed in conjunction with clinical outcomes (heart failure and death). Results Overall, 57.5% of patients had no significant iron loading (T2* >20ms), 22.6% had moderate cardiac iron (10ms50%) in South-East Asia had cardiac iron (T2* >20ms) at baseline. At the time of the first scan, 100 patients (3.3%) had confirmed heart failure, the majority of whom (77.0%) had myocardial T2* <10ms with almost all (99%) having T2* <20ms. There were 113 patients who subsequently developed heart failure. 92.0% of these had T2* <10ms and 99.1% had a T2* <20ms. There were 39 deaths. Cardiac T2* values were <10ms in 79.5%, with 92.3% <20ms. Conclusions Even in this well-treated cohort with access to transfusion, chelation and CMR, there is a large proportion of TM patients with moderate to severe cardiac iron loading. Low T2* (<10ms) is associated with cardiac failure and death. There is a huge unmet worldwide need in terms of access to specialist medical care (including transfusion and chelation therapy) together with advanced monitoring techniques (such as CMR)

Impaired neonatal macrophage phagocytosis is not explained by overproduction of prostaglandin E2

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neonates and young infants manifest increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral and fungal lung infections. Previous work has identified a role for eicosanoids in mediating host defense functions of macrophages. This study examines the relationship between alveolar macrophage (AM) host defense and production of lipid mediators during the neonatal period compared to adult AMs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>AMs were harvested from young (day 7 and day 14) and adult (~10 week) rats. The functionality of these cells was assessed by examining their ability to phagocytose opsonized targets, produce cytokines, eicosanoids and intracellular cAMP measured by enzyme immunoassays, and gene expression of proteins, enzymes and receptors essential for eicosanoid generation and phagocytosis measured by real time RT-PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>AMs from young animals (day 7 and 14) were defective in their ability to phagocytose opsonized targets and produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α. In addition, young AMs produce more prostaglandin (PG) E₂, a suppressor of host defense, and less leukotriene (LT) B₄, a promoter of host defense. Young AMs express higher levels of enzymes responsible for the production of PGE₂and LTB₄; however, there was no change in the expression of E prostanoid (EP) receptors or LT receptors. Despite the similar EP profiles, young AMs are more responsive to PGE₂as evidenced by their increased production of the important second messenger, cyclic AMP. In addition, young AMs express higher levels of PDE3B and lower levels of PDE4C compared to adult AMs. However, even though the young AMs produced a skewed eicosanoid profile, neither the inhibition of PGE₂by aspirin nor the addition of exogenous LTB₄rescued the defective opsonized phagocytosis. Examination of a receptor responsible for mediating opsonized phagocytosis showed a significant decrease in the gene expression levels of the Fcgamma receptor in young (day 7) AMs compared to adult AMs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that elevated production of PGE₂and decreased production of LTB₄do not contribute to impaired opsonized macrophage phagocytosis and highlight an important difference between young and adult AMs.</p

Phagocytic ability of neutrophils and monocytes in neonates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infections by a variety of pathogens are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality during perinatal period. The susceptibility of neonates to bacterial infections has been attributed to immaturity of innate immunity. It is considered that one of the impaired mechanisms is the phagocytic function of neutrophils and monocytes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the phagocytic ability of neonates at birth.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The phagocytic ability of neutrophils and monocytes of 42 neonates was determined using the Phagotest flow cytometry method, that assesses the intake of <it>E. Coli </it>by phagocytes, in cord blood and in peripheral blood 3 days after birth. Fifteen healthy adults were included in the study as controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The phagocytic ability of neutrophils in the cord blood of neonates was significantly reduced compared to adults. The 3^rdpostnatal day the reduction of phagocytic ability of neutrophils was no longer significant compared to adults. The phagocytic ability of monocytes did not show any difference from that of adults either at birth or the 3^rdpostnatal day.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings indicate that the intake of <it>E. Coli </it>by phagocytes is impaired at birth in both preterm and full term neonates compared to adults. This defect is transient, with the phagocytic ability in neonates reaching that of the adults 3 days after birth.</p

Homoplasy corrected estimation of genetic similarity from AFLP bands, and the effect of the number of bands on the precision of estimation

AFLP is a DNA fingerprinting technique, resulting in binary band presence–absence patterns, called profiles, with known or unknown band positions. We model AFLP as a sampling procedure of fragments, with lengths sampled from a distribution. Bands represent fragments of specific lengths. We focus on estimation of pairwise genetic similarity, defined as average fraction of common fragments, by AFLP. Usual estimators are Dice (D) or Jaccard coefficients. D overestimates genetic similarity, since identical bands in profile pairs may correspond to different fragments (homoplasy). Another complicating factor is the occurrence of different fragments of equal length within a profile, appearing as a single band, which we call collision. The bias of D increases with larger numbers of bands, and lower genetic similarity. We propose two homoplasy- and collision-corrected estimators of genetic similarity. The first is a modification of D, replacing band counts by estimated fragment counts. The second is a maximum likelihood estimator, only applicable if band positions are available. Properties of the estimators are studied by simulation. Standard errors and confidence intervals for the first are obtained by bootstrapping, and for the second by likelihood theory. The estimators are nearly unbiased, and have for most practical cases smaller standard error than D. The likelihood-based estimator generally gives the highest precision. The relationship between fragment counts and precision is studied using simulation. The usual range of band counts (50–100) appears nearly optimal. The methodology is illustrated using data from a phylogenetic study on lettuce

High-density marker profiling confirms ancestral genomes of Avena species and identifies D-genome chromosomes of hexaploid oat

We investigated genomic relationships among 27 species of the genus Avena using high-density genetic markers revealed by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Two methods of GBS analysis were used: one based on tag-level haplotypes that were previously mapped in cultivated hexaploid oat (A. sativa), and one intended to sample and enumerate tag-level haplotypes originating from all species under investigation. Qualitatively, both methods gave similar predictions regarding the clustering of species and shared ancestral genomes. Furthermore, results were consistent with previous phylogenies of the genus obtained with conventional approaches, supporting the robustness of whole genome GBS analysis. Evidence is presented to justify the final and definitive classification of the tetraploids A. insularis, A. maroccana (=A. magna), and A. murphyi as containing D-plus-C genomes, and not A-plus-C genomes, as is most often specified in past literature. Through electronic painting of the 21 chromosome representations in the hexaploid oat consensus map, we show how the relative frequency of matches between mapped hexaploid-derived haplotypes and AC (DC)-genome tetraploids vs. A- and C-genome diploids can accurately reveal the genome origin of all hexaploid chromosomes, including the approximate positions of inter-genome translocations. Evidence is provided that supports the continued classification of a diverged B genome in AB tetraploids, and it is confirmed that no extant A-genome diploids, including A. canariensis, are similar enough to the D genome of tetraploid and hexaploid oat to warrant consideration as a D-genome diploid.publishersversionPeer reviewe