The objective was to evaluate the effect of cytoplasmic lipid content on the embryonic developmental efficiency of bovine in vitro embryo production (IVP) embryos. Ovaries from Korean native cows ...(Bos taurus coreanae) were collected from a local abattoir, and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from follicles 2 to 8
mm in diameter. The oocytes were divided into three groups, dependent on their cytoplasm color: pale color (PC), brown color (BC), and dark color (DC). The COCs were fertilized using frozen-thawed semen from a single Hanwoo bull. Based on measurement of the cytoplasmic color intensity of oocytes after 22
h of in vitro maturation (IVM), the DC group had lower (P
<
0.05) color intensity than that in the BC and PC groups (56.3
±
2.7, 93.3
±
5.1, and 123.9
±
12.0, respectively). Based on MitoTracker Green FM staining, the number of mitochondria in the DC (170.1
±
31.2) group was significantly higher than that in the BC (137.5
±
30.8) and PC (105.5
±
25.3) groups. The cleavage rate in the DC (81.5%) group was also higher than that in the PC (50.4%) group (P
<
0.05), as was the development rate to blastocyst stage (18.9% vs. 9.8%). Finally, cell numbers of blastocysts in the DC (150.8
±
28.0) group were higher (P
<
0.05) than that in the BC (107.6
±
17.8) and PC (80.5
±
12.3) groups. In conclusion, cytoplasm color was a useful selection parameter for abattoir-derived oocytes destined for IVP.
Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of dry matter, nitrogen, energy and amino acids were evaluated in six weanling ...barrows (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc fed soybean meal diet (SBM), fermented soybean meal A diet with 50% solubility in potassium hydroxide (FSMA), fermented soybean meal B diet with 60% solubility in potassium hydroxide (FSMB), fermented soybean meal C diet with 70% solubility in potassium hydroxide (FSMC), enzyme-treated soybean meal (ETSM) and nitrogen-free diet. Pigs having body weights of 8.99 ± 0.40 kg were surgically equipped with T-cannulas of approximately 15 cm prior to the ileo-cecal junction and randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments and a nitrogen-free diet in 6 × 6 Latin squares. With regards to the ATTD of essential amino acids, the ATTD of arginine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine and total essential amino acids was greater in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC, and ETSM diets than in SBM and FSMA diets. The ATTD of leucine, phenylalanine, threonine and valine in the FSMC diet was non-significant compared with the values of ATTD in FSMB and ETSM diets. With respect to non-essential amino acids the ATTD of aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, proline, tyrosine and total amino acids was greater in pigs fed the FSMC diet compared with the SBM diet and not different from the values of pigs fed the ETSM diet. The AID of dry matter, nitrogen and energy in the FSMC diet was greater (P < 0.05) than in pigs fed SBM and FSMA diets but was equal to the values of FSMB and ETSM diets. With regards to the AID of essential amino acids, the AID of histidine, lysine, methionine and threonine was greater in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC and ETSM diets than in SBM and FSMA diets (P < 0.05). The AID of isoleucine was greater in pigs fed FSMB and ETSM diets than the FSMA diet. The AID of arginine, phenylalanine and valine was greater in pigs fed the FSMC diet compared with the SBM diet. With respect to non-essential amino acids the AID of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, tyrosine and total amino acids was the same as in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC, ETSM diets and greater (P < 0.05) than in pigs fed SBM and FSMA diets. The SID of all essential amino acids in pigs fed the FSMC diet was greater than for the FSMA diet. In the case of non-essential amino acids, the SID of all amino acids except for cysteine was greatest in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC and ETSM treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of FSMB, FSMC and/or ETSM diets can improve the ATTD, AID and SID of dry matter, nitrogen, energy, total amino acids and most of the essential amino acids in weanling pigs.
Summary
What is known and objective
Treatment of bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus often requires prolonged therapy leading to increased hospital lengths of stay and associated costs. For ...certain patients, referral to an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programme serves as an alternative to increased inpatient length of stay. We report an alternative to OPAT using dalbavancin for the treatment of methicillin‐sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).
Case summary
A 54‐year‐old Caucasian man was brought to the emergency department from a rehabilitation centre with altered mental status and possible seizure. A peripheral intravenous catheter was placed in the left forearm, and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for management of his acute psychosis, possible seizure and hyponatremia. Seven days into admission, the patient became febrile thought to be secondary to septic phlebitis of the forearm. Blood cultures were taken and organism identification using Nanosphere Verigene® BC‐GP rapid diagnostic testing resulted in MSSA. The patient received treatment with cefazolin with a planned treatment duration of 14 days but because of the patient's history of alcohol abuse, psychosis requiring hospitalization via the Baker Act, and history of non‐compliance to follow‐up appointments, the patient was deemed ineligible for OPAT. Due to the limited treatment options, therapy for MSSA bacteremia was changed on day 6 of cefazolin therapy to dalbavancin to complete the 14‐day treatment duration. Blood cultures were negative at the end of treatment and no relapse of infection occurred.
What is new and conclusion
To our knowledge, this is the first case report using dalbavancin in clinical practice for the treatment of MSSA bacteremia secondary to septic phlebitis. This report highlights the potential role of the newer lipoglycopeptides, such as dalbavancin, in treating patients who require long‐term parenteral antimicrobial therapy and are ineligible for treatment via OPAT.
Graph of patients temperature during treatment has been uploaded.
Si nanostructures with high surface area are prepared by Ag-assisted chemical etching, and then employed as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. The use of the surface-modified Si, which has ...four times higher surface area than its pristine counterpart, leads to the enhancement of electrochemical performance characteristics such as discharge capacity and coulombic efficiency. In order to optimize the electrode constituents, two different binders, poly-vinylidine difluoride (PVdF) and polyimide (PI), are evaluated on the basis of electrochemical and physical tests. In-situ dilatometer and nano-indentation studies during repeated charging and discharging cycles for the different binders reveal more stability and recuperative capability against physical stress with the PI binder than with the PVdF. The optimized active structure combined with the film-like binder plays an important role in enhancing the electrochemical performance.
► Si nanostructures are prepared by Ag-assisted chemical etching. ► The choice of PI binder for Si nanostructure is very important. ► The employment of PI binder improves electrochemical performance. ► The mechanical properties of PI mitigate the volume change of Si electrode. ► The proper selection of binders such as polyimide is one of the key factors.
Exposure to ionising radiation induces male infertility, accompanied by increasing permeability of the blood-testis barrier. However, the effect on male fertility by low-dose-rate chronic radiation ...has not been investigated. In this study, the effects of low-dose-rate chronic radiation on male mice were investigated by measuring the levels of tight-junction-associated proteins (ZO-1 and occludin-1), Niemann-Pick disease type 2 protein (NPC-2) and antisperm antibody (AsAb) in serum. BALB/c mice were exposed to low-dose-rate radiation (3.49 mGy h(-1)) for total exposures of 0.02 (6 h), 0.17 (2 d) and 1.7 Gy (21 d). Based on histological examination, the diameter and epithelial depth of seminiferous tubules were significantly decreased in 1.7-Gy-irradiated mice. Compared with those of the non-irradiated group, 1.7-Gy-irradiated mice showed significantly decreased ZO-1, occludin-1 and NPC-2 protein levels, accompanied with increased serum AsAb levels. These results suggest potential blood-testis barrier injury and immune infertility in male mice exposed to low-dose-rate chronic radiation.
An acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreak was reported in May 2013 in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Eight students who had eaten breakfast on 21 May 2013 at a high-school restaurant exhibited AGE ...symptoms. Our case-control study showed that a strong association was observed between AGE symptoms and fermented oyster consumption. Virological studies also indicated that noroviruses (NoVs) were detected from both clinical samples and fermented oyster samples, and multiple different genotypes (genogroups GII.4, GII.11 and GII.14) of NoVs were present in both samples. The nucleotide sequence similarity between the strains found in the clinical samples and those in the fermented oysters was more than 99·5%. Therefore, to prevent further outbreaks, proper management of raw oysters is necessary and the food industry should be aware of the risk of viral gastroenteritis posed by fermented oysters contaminated with NoVs.
Background – Although basilar artery atherosclerotic disease (BAD) is frequent in patients with pontine base infarction, it remains unknown whether BAD is related to the lesion size or clinical ...outcome.
Methods – We studied 56 patients with unilateral pontine base infarction who underwent (i) diffusion‐weighted MRI within 48 h after stroke onset and (ii) follow‐up MRI and MR angiography in the subacute stage. Neurologic progression was defined as increased National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score by ≥ 2 during admission. Clinical outcome was dichotomized as good and poor (≥ 3) according to the modified Rankin Scale at 1 month after stroke onset.
Results – Twenty‐two patients (39%) had BAD and 15 patients (27%) had neurologic progression. Follow‐up MRI performed at median 3.5 ± 1.1 days after the initial MRI showed the lesion volume significantly increased (P < 0.001). The BAD was not significantly related to demographic characteristics, risk factors, initial and follow‐up lesion volume, neurologic progression and clinical outcome, but was closely related to the subacute increase in lesion volume (P = 0.004 for 20% increase, P = 0.029 for 50% increase).
Conclusions – BAD is related to subacute increase in lesion volume, but not to ultimate poor clinical outcome in patients with pontine base infarction.
Diabet. Med. 27, 30–36 (2010)
Aims We examined the effect of rosiglitazone on insulin sensitivity, abdominal fat and mid‐thigh intramuscular fat distribution, and plasma concentrations of ...adipocytokines in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Methods Rosiglitazone was administered at a daily dose of 4 mg to 42 Type 2 diabetes patients age 32–70 years, body mass index (BMI) 17.5–32.6 kg/m2, 15 women, 27 men for 12 weeks. Various anthropometric and metabolic profiles, plasma adiponectin, leptin, and resistin levels were measured, and insulin resistance was calculated from the short insulin tolerance test. Body fat composition was assessed by computed tomography.
Results Twelve weeks’ rosiglitazone treatment resulted in improved insulin resistance despite increases in body weight and BMI. There was a significant decrease in abdominal visceral adipose tissue area (145 ± 65.6 vs. 129 ± 73.1 cm2, P = 0.049). Mid‐thigh low‐density muscle area (TLDMA) increased from 23 ± 9.6 to 26 ± 8.2 cm2 (P = 0.009). There were significant changes in plasma adipocytokines, but they were not significantly correlated with changes in insulin resistance.
Conclusions Rosiglitazone treatment resulted in an improvement of insulin responsiveness in Type 2 diabetic subjects, which was associated with the redistribution of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, an increase in TLDMA, and changes in serum adipocytokine levels. Further studies are needed to elucidate the insulin sensitizing mechanism of rosiglitazone on peripheral skeletal muscles.
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