Neither bovine somatotropin nor growth hormone-releasing factor alters expression of thyroid hormone receptors in liver and mammary tissues

Physiological effects of thyroid hormones are mediated primarily by binding of triiodothyronine to specific nuclear receptors. Organ-specific changes in production of triiodothyronine from its prohormone, thyroxine, have been hypothesized to target the action of thyroid hormones on the mammary gland and play a role in mediating or augmenting a galactopoietic response to bovine somatotropin (bST). Additionally, tissue responsiveness to thyroid hormones may be altered by changes in the number or affinity of nuclear receptors for thyroid hormones. In the present study, effects of bST and bovine growth hormone-releasing factor (bGRF) on thyroid hormone receptors in liver and mammary gland were studied. Lactating Holstein cows received continuous infusions of bST or bGRF for 63 d or served as uninfused controls. Nuclei were isolated from harvested mammary and liver tissues and incubated with [(125)I]-triiodothyronine. Treatments did not alter the capacity or affinity of specific binding sites for triiodothyronine in liver or mammary nuclei. Evaluation of transcript abundance for thyroid hormone receptors showed that isoforms of thyroid hormone receptor or retinoid receptor (which may influence thyroid receptor action) expressed in the mammary gland were not altered by bST or bGRF treatment. Data do not support the hypothesis that administration of bST or bGRF alters sensitivity of mammary tissue by changing expression of thyroid hormone receptors.

Sequence variation of the alpha-lactalbumin gene in Holstein and Nellore cows

The alpha-lactalbumin is a subunit of lactose-synthase, an enzyme responsible for lactose production, a disaccharide that influences milk production. Sequence variations of bovine alpha-lactalbumin have been associated with differences in milk yield. This study aimed to analyze allelic frequency differences at position-1689 (g. AG) and+15 (g. AG) of the alpha-lactalbumin gene in Holstein (Bos taurus) and Nellore (Bos indicus) cows. Blood samples were analyzed from 34 Holstein, 104 Nellore, and 99 Dairy Nellore cows using PCR-RFLP. The different RFLP patterns were sequenced and a novel sequence variation on nucleotide-46 was identified. An adenine at this position was designated as the A allele and a guanine was designated B allele. The frequencies of alleles A-1689, A-46, and A+15 differed between Holstein and both Nellore breeds. The results show that differences in alpha-lactalbumin allelic variants in the 5`-flanking and the 5`-UTR region might be associated with differences in milk production between Holstein cows and cows from Nellore breeds. However, the lack of difference between Nellore and Dairy Nellore suggests that other sequence variantions that regulate milk production might be responsible for the selection of Dairy Nellore cows with superior milk production.

Polysaccharide fraction of Agaricus brasiliensis avoids tumor-induced IL-10 production and changes the microenvironment of subcutaneous Ehrlich adenocarcinoma

Subcutaneous Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice were treated with in situ inoculation of a P-glucan-rich extract of Agaricus brasiliensis (ATF), which reduced tumor growth. Histopathological analysis showed that the tumor masses of control mice (Ehr) presented giant tumor cells and many mitotic figures whereas the tumor tissue obtained from ATF-treated animals (Ehr-ATF) presented a lower frequency of both mitotic and giant cells, associated with a higher frequency of apoptotic cells than Ehr. Analysis of the lymphoproliferative activity of spleen cells showed that the treatment had a suppressive rather than a stimulatory effect. Spleen cells of the Ehr group produced higher in vitro levels of IL-10 than normal controls and this occurrence was partially avoided by treatment with ATF. Analysis of cytokine production by tumor-infiltrating cells (ELISpot) showed that ATF induced a higher number of IFN-gamma-producing cells at 7 and 14 days as well as reduction of IL-10-secreting cells at the latter time. Confocal microscopy analysis showed higher intensity of labeling of CD4+ and Mac-3+ cells in ATF-treated mice. Analysis of in situ expression of angiogenic growth factors showed a slight decrease of FGF-2 mRNA in Ehr-ATF animals (7th day) but not of VEGF-A or TGF-beta expression. This fraction could not directly lyse either lymphocytes or tumor cells and we speculate that antitumor effect of ATF could be due to induction of a selective migration of immunocompetent cells from the spleen to the tumor site and to the switch of cytokine production. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An analysis of accommodation needs of adults with an intellectual disability in Toowoomba and surrounding areas

Introduction The objective of this study was to analyse the accommodation needs of people with intellectual disability over the age of 18 years in Toowoomba and contiguous shires. In 2004, a group of carers established Toowoomba Intellectual Disability Support Association (TIDSA) to address the issue of the lack of supported accommodation for people with intellectual disability over the age of 18 and the concerns of ageing carers. The Centre for Rural and Remote Area Health (CRRAH) was engaged by TIDSA to ascertain this need and undertook a research project funded by the Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund. While data specifically relating to people with intellectual disability and their carers are difficult to obtain, the Australian Bureau of Statistics report that carers of people with a disability are more likely to be female and at least 65 years of age. Projections by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) show that disability rates are increasing and carer rates are decreasing. Thus the problem of appropriate support to the increasing number of ageing carers and those who they care for will be a major challenge to policy makers and is an issue of immediate concern. In general, what was once the norm of accommodating people with intellectual disability in large institutions is now changing to accommodating into community-based residences (Annison, 2000; Young, Ashman, Sigafoos, & Grevell, 2001). However, in Toowoomba and contiguous shires, TIDSA have noted that the availability of suitable accommodation for people with intellectual disability over the age of 18 years is declining with no new options available in an environment of increasing demand. Most effort seemed to be directed towards crisis provision. Method This study employed two phases of data gathering, the first being the distribution of a questionnaire through local service providers and upon individual request to the carers of people with intellectual disability over the age of 18. The questionnaire comprised of Likert-type items intended to measure various aspects of current and future accommodation issues. Most questions were followed with space for free-response comments to provide the opportunity for carers to further clarify and expand on their responses. The second phase comprised semi-structured interviews conducted with ten carers and ten people with intellectual disability who had participated in the Phase One questionnaire. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to content analysis where major themes were explored. Results Age and gender Carer participants in this study totalled 150. The mean age of these carers was 61.5 years and ranged from 40 – 91 years. Females comprised 78% of the sample (mean age = 61.49; range from 40-91) and 22% were male (mean age = 61.7 range from 43-81). The mean age of people with intellectual disability in our study was 37.2 years ranging from 18 – 79 years with 40% female (mean age = 39.5; range from 19-79) and 60% male (mean age = 35.6; range from 18-59). The average age of carers caring for a person over the age of 18 who is living at home is 61 years. The average age of the carer who cares for a person who is living away from home is 62 years. The overall age range of both these groups of carers is between 40 and 81 years. The oldest group of carers (mean age = 70 years) were those where the person with intellectual disability lives away from home in a large residential facility. Almost one quarter of people with an intellectual disability who currently live at home is cared for by one primary carer and this is almost exclusively a parent.

Central NO-cGMP pathway in thermoregulation and survival rate during polymicrobial sepsis

Sepsis induces production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and causes physiological alterations, including changes in body temperature (T(b)). We evaluated the involvement of the central NO cGMP pathway in thermoregulation during sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and analyzed its effect on survival rate. Male Wistar rats with a T(b) probe inserted in their abdomen were intracerebroventricularly injected with 1 mu L N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 250 mu g), a nonselective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor; or aminoguanidine (250 mu g), an inducible NOS inhibitor; or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 0.25 mu g), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor. Thirty minutes after injection, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), or the rats were sham operated. The animals were divided into 2 groups for determination of T(b) for 24 h and assessment of survival during 3 days. The drop in T(b) seen in the CLP group was attenuated by pretreatment with the NOS inhibitors (p < 0.05) and blocked with ODQ. CLP rats pretreated with either of the inhibitors showed higher survival rates than vehicle injected groups (p < 0.05), and were even higher in the ODQ pretreated group. Our results showed that the effect of NOS inhibition on the hypothermic response to CLP is consistent with the role of nitrergic pathways in thermoregulation.

Reproductive development and function of female rats exposed to di-eta-butyl-phthalate (DBP) in utero and during lactation

Phthalates are environmental contaminants used in the production of plastics, cosmetics and medical devices. Studies on the effects of phthalates on female reproductive health are particularly sparse and mostly restricted to high-dose exposure in rats. In the present study, pregnant rats were treated with 100 mg/kg-d of di-eta-butyl-phthalate (DBP) or only the vehicle (control group), from GD 12 to GD 20 for evaluation of reproductive outcomes and fetal gonads analysis (F0), and from GD 12 to PND 21 to evaluate reproductive development and function on F1 female offspring. Results showed that all parameters were comparable between groups, although there was a significant increase in the fetal weight after DBP exposure. However, the body weight at birth was normal. Based on these data we can conclude that, in these experimental conditions, DBP did not disturb the reproductive development or function of female rats. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Neonatal handling reduces the number of cells in the medial preoptic area of female rats

Early-life events may induce alterations in neuronal function in adulthood. A crucial aspect in studying long-lasting effects induced by environmental interventions imposed to the animal several weeks before is finding a stable change that could be causally related to the phenotype observed in adulthood. In order to explain an adult trait, it seems necessary to look back to early life and establish a temporal line between events. The neonatal handling procedure is an experimental tool to analyze the long-lasting impact of early-life events. Aside from the neuroendocrine response to stress, neonatal handling also alters the functionality of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis. Reductions in ovulation and surge of the luteinizing hormone (LH) on the proestrous day were shown in female rats. Considering the importance of the medial preoptic area (MPA) for the control of ovulation, the present study aimed to verify the effects of neonatal handling on the numerical density and cell size in the MPA in 11-day-old and 90-day-old female rats. Cellular proliferation was also assessed using BrdU (5-bromo-2`-deoxyuridine) in 11-day-old pups. Results showed that neonatal handling induces a stable reduction in the number of cells and in the size of the cell soma, which were lower in handled females than in nonhandled ones at both ages. Cellular proliferation in the MPA was also reduced 24 h after the last manipulation. The repeated mother-infant disruption imposed by the handling procedure ""lesioned"" the MPA. The dysfunction in the ovulation mechanisms induced by the handling procedure could be related to that neuronal loss. The study also illustrates the impact of an environmental intervention on the development of the brain. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Characterization of pore structure and coordination of titanium in TiO2 and SiO2-TiO2 sol-pillared clays

Titania sol-pillared clay (TiO2 PILC) and silica-titania sol-pillared clay (SiO2-TiO2 PILC) were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Supercritical drying (SCD) and treatment with quaternary ammonium surfactants were used to tailor the pore structure of the resulting clay. It was found that SCD approach increased the external surface area of the PILCs dramatically and that treatment with surfactants could be used to tailor pore size because the mesopore formation in the galleries between the clay layers follows the templating mechanism as observed in the synthesis of MCM-41 materials. Highly mesoporous solids were thus obtained. In calcined TiO2 PILC, ultrafine crystallites in anatase phase, which are active for photocatalytic oxidation of organics, were observed. In SiO2-TiO2 PILCs and their derivatives, titanium was highly dispersed in the matrix of silica and no crystal phase was observed. The highly dispersed titanium sites are good catalytic centers for selective oxidation of organic compounds. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Subcortical brain mechanisms in speech and language

This paper reviews current research and contemporary theories of subcortical participation in the motor control of speech production and language processing. As a necessary precursor to the discussion of the functional roles of the basal ganglia and thalamus, the neuroanatomy of the basal ganglial-thalamocortical circuitry is described. Contemporary models of hypokinetic and hyperkinetic movement disorders based on recent neuroanatomical descriptions of the multi-segmented circuits that characterise basal ganglion anatomy are described. Reported effects of surgically induced lesions in the globus pallidus and thalamus on speech production are reviewed. In addition, contemporary models proposed to explain the possible contribution of various subcortical structures to language processing are described and discussed in the context of evidence gained from observation of the effects of circumscribed surgically induced lesions in the basal ganglia and thalamus on language function. The potential of studies based on examination of the speech/language outcomes of patients undergoing pallidotomy and thalamotomy to further inform the debate relating to the role of subcortical structures in speech motor control and language processing is highlighted. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Self-reported calcium intake and bone mineral content in children and adolescents

Objective: We examined the relationship between self-reported calcium (Cal intake and bone mineral content (BMC) in children and adolescents. We hypothesized that an expression of Ca adjusted for energy intake (El), i.e., Ca density, would be a better predictor of BMC than unadjusted Ca because of underreporting of EI. Methods: Data were obtained on dietary intakes (repeated 24-hour recalls) and BMC (by DEXA) in a cross-section of 227 children aged 8 to 17 years. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine die relationship between Ca, Ca density, and the dependent variables total body BMC and lumbar spine BMC. Covariates included were height, weight, bone area, maturity age, activity score and El. Results: Reported El compared to estimated basal metabolic rate suggested underreporting of El. Total body and lumbar spine BMC were significantly associated with El, but not Ca or Ca density, in bivariate analyses. After controlling for size and maturity, multiple linear regression analysis revealed unadjusted Ca to be a predictor of BMC in males in the total body (p = 0.08) and lumbar spine (p = 0.01). Unadjusted Ca was not a predictor of BMC at either site in females. Ca density was not a better predictor of BMC at either site in males or females. Conclusions: The relationship observed in male adolescents in this study between Ca intake and BMC is similar to that seen in clinical trials. Ca density did not enable us to see a relationship between Ca intake and BMC in females, which may reflect systematic reporting errors or that diet is not a limiting factor in this group of healthy adolescents.

Relationships between crude protein and mineral concentrations in alfalfa and value of alfalfa silage as a mineral source for periparturient cows

One hundred and eight samples from three cultivars of alfalfa were obtained from three cuttings in 1996-1998 to evaluate the relationship between crude protein (CP) and mineral concentrations of alfalfa with cutting and maturation. The CP content drastically decreased from 27.9 to 11.4% on DM with maturity. Highly positive correlations were observed between CP and K in the first and the second cutting of alfalfa. The Ca content remained almost constant throughout the growth period. Four multiparous Holstein cows were assigned an alfalfa silage diet or an orchardgrass silage diet from 3 weeks prepartum to 1 week postpartum to examine the effect on the mineral balance. In the prepartum and postpartum diet, the roughage to concentrate ratio was 70:30 and 50:50, with alfalfa being 50 and 100% of the roughage, respectively. The alfalfa contained 1.93% of K. No metabolic disorders occurred, but the body weight decreased drastically from 1 to 6 days postpartum with each diet because of the high milk production immediately after the parturition. Positive retention of N, Ca, P, Mg, and K was observed prepartum, whereas the cows had negative N and mineral retention from 2 to 4 days postpartum. The Ca and P absorption, and Mg retention of cows with the alfalfa diet were higher than with the grass diet. The plasma Ca and inorganic P were not affected by diet, but the plasma PTH at parturition and plasma hydroxyproline from 1 week prepartum to 1 week postpartum were higher with the alfalfa diet. These results suggest that the low K alfalfa is suitable not only to prevent the incidence of milk fever but also to increase Ca, P and Mg utilization of periparturient cows, but the mineral supplementation is needed for the postpartum cows immediately after the parturition. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The modelling of froth zone recovery in batch and continuously operated laboratory flotation cells

This paper proposes an integrated methodology for modelling froth zone performance in batch and continuously operated laboratory flotation cells. The methodology is based on a semi-empirical approach which relates the overall flotation rate constant to the froth depth (FD) in the flotation cell; from this relationship, a froth zone recovery (R,) can be extracted. Froth zone recovery, in turn, may be related to the froth retention time (FRT), defined as the ratio of froth volume to the volumetric flow rate of concentrate from the cell. An expansion of this relationship to account for particles recovered both by true flotation and entrainment provides a simple model that may be used to predict the froth performance in continuous tests from the results of laboratory batch experiments. Crown Copyright (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Porphyrins as early biomarkers for arsenic exposure in animals and humans

We studied the effect of arsenic exposure on the haem biosynthetic pathway in the rat and humans. Significant increases in protoporphyrin IX, coproporphyrin III, coproporphyrin I were observed in the blood, liver and kidney, and in the urine of rats after a single dose of arsenic. The level of increase was dependent on the arsenic species present. Most of porphyrin concentrations in the tissues increased within 24 hr and urinary excretion elevated within 48 hr. In the human study, we collected urine samples from 113 people who live in Xing Ren of Guizhou Province, a coal-borne arsenicosis endemic area in southwest of PR China and from 30 people who live in Xing Yi (about 80 km southwest of Xing Ren) where arsenicosis is not prevalent. We analyzed the urinary porphyrins using HPLC. Results indicate that all urinary porphyrins were higher in the arsenic exposed group than those in the control group. Women, children and older age people spend much of their time indoors, they had greater increases of urinary arsenic and porphyrins. They were the higher risk groups among the study subjects. A positive correlation between the urinary arsenic levels and porphyrin concentrations demonstrated the effect of arsenic on haem biosynthesis. Significant alteration in the porphyrin excretion profiles of the younger age (