Iowa Crop and Weather Report, May 21, 2012, Vol. 12. no. 12

Report produced by the The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Climatology Bureau. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.

Lack of hypotriglyceridemic effect of gemfibrozil as a consequence of age-related changes in rat liver PPARalpha.

We have investigated if changes in hepatic lipid metabolism produced by old age are related to changes in liver peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). Our results indicate that 18-month-old rats showed a marked decrease in the expression and activity of liver PPARalpha, as shown by significant reductions in PPARalpha mRNA, protein and binding activity, resulting in a reduction in the relative mRNA levels of PPARalpha target genes, such as liver-carnitine-palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I) and mitochondrial medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD). Further, in accordance with a liver PPARalpha deficiency in old rats, treatment of old animals with a therapeutic dose of gemfibrozil (GFB) (3mg/kg per day, 21 days) was ineffective in reducing plasma triglyceride concentrations (TG), despite attaining a 50% reduction in TG when GFB was administered to young animals at the same dose and length of treatment. We hypothesize that the decrease in hepatic PPARalpha can be related to a state of leptin resistance present in old animals.

Report on a special investigation of the Amana Colonies Land Use District for the period May 21, 2007 through March 31, 2011

Report on a special investigation of the Amana Colonies Land Use District for the period May 21, 2007 through March 31, 2011

Iowa Crop and Weather Report, July 23, 2012, Vol. 12. no. 21

Report produced by the The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Climatology Bureau. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.

Association between mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after kidney transplantation

MBLdeficiency is thought to be a risk factor for the development of viral infection, such as genital herpes and HSV-2 meningitis. However, there is limited data on the possible interaction between MBL and CMV, especially after organ transplantation. Between 2003 and 2005, we measured MBL levels in 16 kidney transplant recipients with high-risk CMV serostatus (donor positive/recipient negative, D+/R−). All patients receivedCMV prophylaxis of valganciclovir 450 mg/day for 3 months after transplantation. After stopping valganciclovir, CMV-DNA was measured in whole blood by real time PCR every 2 weeks for 3 months. CMV infections were diagnosed according to the recommendations of the AST. MBL levels were measured in stored pre-transplantation sera by an investigator blinded to the CMV complications. MBL levels below 500 ng/ml were considered as being functionally deficient. After a follow-up of at least 10 months, seven patients out of 16 developed CMV disease (three CMV syndrome, and four probable invasive disease, i.e. two colitis and two hepatitis), four patients developed asymptomatic CMV infection, and five patients never developed any sign of CMV replication. Peak CMV-DNA was higher in patients with CMV disease than in those with asymptomatic infection (4.64 versus 2.72 mean log copy CMV-DNA/106 leukocytes, p < 0.05). Overall, 9/16 patients (56%) had MBL deficiency: 5/7 (71%) of patients with CMV disease, 4/4 (100%) of patients with asymptomatic CMVinfection, and 0/5 (0%) of patients withoutCMVinfection (p < 0.005, between CMV infection/disease versus no infection or control blood donors). There were no significant differences in age, gender or immunosuppressive regimens between the groups. MBL deficiency may be a significant risk factor for the development of post-prophylaxisCMVinfection in D+/R−kidney recipients, suggesting a new role of innate immunity in the control of CMV infection after organ transplantation.

List of Bid Proposal Holders, August 21, 2012

List of Bid Proposal Holders

Insight in protein S deficiency from mouse models

Protein S (ProS) is an important negative regulator of blood coagulation. Its physiological importance is evident in purpura fulminans and other life-threatening thrombotic disorders typical of ProS deficient patients. Our previous characterization of ProS deficiency in mouse models has shown similarities with the human phenotypes: heterozygous ProS-deficient mice (Pros+/-) had increased thrombotic risk whereas homozygous deficiency in ProS (Pros-/-) was incompatible with life (Blood 2009; 114:2307-2314). In tissues, ProS exerts cellular functions by binding to and activating tyrosine kinase receptors of the Tyro3 family (TAM) on the cell surface.To extend the analysis of coagulation defects beyond the Pros-/- phenotype and add new insights into the sites of synthesis ProS and its action, we generated mice with inactivated ProS in hepatocytes (Proslox/loxAlbCre+) as well as in endothelial and hematopoietic cells (Proslox/loxTie2Cre+). Both models resulted in significant reduction of circulating ProS levels and in a remarkable increased thrombotic risk in vivo. In a model of tissue factor (TF)-induced venous thromboembolism (VTE), only 17% of Proslox/loxAlbCre+ mice (n=12) and only 13% of Proslox/loxTie2Cre+ mice (n=14) survived, compared with 86% of Proslox/lox mice (n=14; P<0.001).To mimic a severe acquired ProS deficiency, ProS gene was inactivated at the adult stage using the polyI:C-inducible Mx1-Cre system (Proslox/loxMx1Cre+). Ten days after polyI:C treatment, Proslox/loxMx1Cre+ mice developed disseminated intravascular coagulation with extensive lung and liver thrombosis.It is worth noting that no skin lesions compatible with purpura fulminans were observed in any of the above-described models of partial ProS deficiency. In order to shed light on the pathogenesis of purpura fulminans, we exposed the different ProS-deficient mice to warfarin (0.2 mg/day). We observed that Pros+/-, Proslox/loxAlbCre+ and Proslox/loxTie2Cre+ mice developed retiform purpura (characterized by erythematous and necrotic lesions of the genital region and extremities) and died after 3 to 5 days after the first warfarin administration.In human, ProS is also synthesized by megakaryocytes and hence stored at high concentrations in circulating platelets (pProS). The role of pProS has been investigated by generating megakaryocyte ProS-deficient model using the PF4 promoter as Cre driver (Proslox/loxPf4Cre+). In the TF-induced VTE model, Proslox/loxPf4Cre+ (n=15) mice showed a significant increased risk of thrombosis compared to Proslox/lox controls (n=14; survival rate 47% and 86%, respectively; P<0.05). Furthermore, preliminary results suggest survival to be associated with higher circulating ProS levels. In order to evaluate the potential role of pProS in thrombus formation, we investigated the thrombotic response to intravenous injection of collagen-epinephrine in vivo and platelet function in vitro. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed similar results between Proslox/loxPf4Cre+ and Proslox/lox, indicating that platelet reactivity was not influenced by the absence of pProS. These data suggest that pProS is delivered at the site of thrombosis to inhibit thrombin generation.We further investigated the ability of ProS to function as a ligand of TAM receptors, by using homozygous and heterozygous deficient mice for both the TAM ligands ProS and Gas6. Gas6-/-Pros-/- mice died in utero and showed comparable dramatic bleeding and thrombotic phenotype as described for Pros-/- embryos.In conclusion, like complete ProS deficiency, double deficiency in ProS and Gas6 was lethal, whereas partial ProS deficiency was not. Mice partially deficient in ProS displayed a prothrombotic phenotype, including those with only deficiency in pProS. Purpura fulminans did not occur spontaneously in mice with partial Pros deficiency but developed upon warfarin administration.Thus, the use of different mice models of ProS deficiency can be instrumental in the study of its highly variable thrombotic phenotype and in the investigation of additional roles of ProS in inflammation and autoimmunity through TAM signaling.

Iron deficiency in infancy: is an immigrant more at risk?

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Iron deficiency with or without anaemia is the most common deficiency in the world. Its prevalence is higher in developing countries and in low socioeconomic populations. We aimed at determining and comparing the prevalence of iron deficiency in an immigrant and non-immigrant population. METHODS: Every child scheduled for a routine check-up at 12 months of age was allowed to participate in the study. Haemoglobin, ferritin, anthropometric data, familial and nutritional status were measured. RESULTS: 586 infants were eligible and 463 were included in the study as they had assessment data at 12 months. Children were divided into two groups: immigrants' children and non-immigrants' children. The global prevalence of iron deficiency was 5.7% at 12 months. A significant difference for iron deficiency was noticed between the groups at 12 months (p = 0.01). Among risk factors, immigration (odds ratio 2.91; 95% CI 1.05-8.04) and unemployment (odds ratio 6.08; 95% CI 1.18-31.30) had the higher odds in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of iron deficiency in the immigrant population is higher than in non-immigrants. Immigration and the category of employment are risk factors for iron deficiency, as starting baby cereals before 9 months is a protective factor. Good socioeconomic conditions in Switzerland, the quality of food for pregnant women and young infants may be the explanation. A study up to five years of age is necessary before drawing general conclusions on infancy.

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, September 21, 2012, Vol. 8, no. 18

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Iowa Agri-News, September 26, 2012, Vol. 12, no. 21

Crop and livestock summaries for the state of Iowa, produced by the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

Friday Facts, September 21, 2012, Vol. 153

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

The Update, August 21, 2012

The Update is a bi-weekly web newsletter published by the Iowa Department of Public Health's Bureau of Family Health. It is posted the second and fourth week of every month, and provides useful job resource information for departmental health care professionals, information on training opportunities, interdepartmental reports and meetings, and additional information pertinent to health care professionals.