The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that affects domestic cats all over the world. Its pathogenic effects generally include anemia, immunosuppression or tumors. Dissemination over ...populations is linked to cat sociality, because the virus is transmitted by direct contact. Although the domestic cat is its common host, FeLV infection has also been described in some wild felids. In the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus, some sporadic FeLV infection cases have been reported since 1994, but an outbreak with the involvement of several animals has never been described until now. During spring 2007, an FeLV outbreak hit the Doñana (SW Spain) population. The infection rapidly spread throughout the densest subpopulation throughout Doñana. Infected animals showed very acute anemic disease, most of them dying in <6 months. To avoid FeLV dissemination, a control program was carried out that included removal of viremic lynxes, vaccination of negative individuals and reduction of the feral cat population. The program was implemented both in Doñana and in Sierra Morena populations. In Doñana, around 80% of the total lynx population and 90% of the outbreak focus subpopulation were evaluated. Seven out of the 12 infected individuals found died and two reverted to latency; the remaining viremic animals have been kept in captivity. The outbreak appears to have been successfully confined to the subpopulation where the virus appeared and no more cases have been found since August 2007. In the larger Sierra Morena population, 8% of the lynx population was surveyed. Thirty-four uninfected Iberian lynxes were vaccinated at least once. The FeLV prevalence was found to be 27% in the Doñana population and 0% in the Sierra Morena population.
The aims of the present study were, firstly, to determine the reliability and reproducibility of an agility T-test and Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test; and secondly, to analyse the physical characteristics ...measured by sprint, agility, strength and endurance field tests in wheelchair basketball (WB) players. 16 WB players (33.06 ± 7.36 years, 71.89 ± 21.71 kg and sitting body height 86.07 ± 6.82 cm) belonging to the national WB league participated in this study. Wheelchair sprint (5 and 20 m without ball, and 5 and 20 m with ball) agility (T-test and pick-up test) strength (handgrip and maximal pass) and endurance (Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test) were performed. T-test and Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test showed good reproducibility values (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.74-0.94). The WB players' results in 5 and 20 m sprints without a ball were 1.87 ± 0.21 s and 5.70 ± 0.43 s and with a ball 2.10 ± 0.30 s and 6.59 ± 0.61 s, being better than those reported in the literature. Regarding the pick-up test results (16.05 ± 0.52 s) and maximal pass (8.39 ± 1.77 m), players showed worse values than those obtained in elite players. The main contribution of the present study is the characterization of the physical performance profile of WB players using a field test battery. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the agility T-test and the aerobic Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test are reliable; consequently they may be appropriate instruments for measuring physical fitness in WB.
This study compared physical characteristics (body height BH, body mass BM, body fat BF, and fat free mass FFM), one repetition maximum bench press (1RM (BP)), jumping explosive power (VJ), handball ...throwing velocity, power-load relationship of the leg and arm extensor muscles, 5- and 15-m sprint running time, and running endurance in elite (n = 16; EF) and amateur (n = 15; AF) female handball players aged 17 - 38. Results revealed that, compared to AF, EF players presented similar values in body mass and percent body fat, but higher values (p < 0.001 - 0.05) in BH (6 %), FFM (10 %), 1RM (BP) (23 %), VJ (10 %), handball throwing velocity (11 %), power-load relationship of the arm (25 %) and leg (12 %) extensors, as well as 5- and 15-m sprint (3 - 4 %) and endurance running velocities (13 %). Univariate regression analyses showed that 1RM (BP) was associated with throwing velocity (R (2) = 0.64). The higher absolute values of maximal strength and muscle power, although explained by the differences in fat free mass, will give EF an advantage to sustain certain handball game actions. The association between 1RM (BP) and throwing velocity suggests that throwing velocity values in female handball players depend more on maximal strength than on the capacity to move low loads at high velocities, during elbow extension actions.
Drug transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes are primarily known for their role in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of small molecule drugs, but they also play a key ...role in handling endogenous metabolites. Recent cross-tissue co-expression network analyses have revealed a "Remote Sensing and Signaling Network" of multispecific, oligo-specific, and monospecific transporters and enzymes involved in endogenous metabolism. This includes many proteins from families involved in ADME (e.g., SLC22, SLCO, ABCC, CYP, UGT). Focusing on the gut-liver-kidney axis, we identified the endogenous metabolites potentially regulated by this network of ~1000 proteins by associating SNPs in these genes with the circulating levels of thousands of small, polar, bioactive metabolites, including free fatty acids, eicosanoids, bile acids, and other signaling metabolites that act in part via G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), nuclear receptors, and kinases. We identified 77 genomic loci associated with 7236 unique metabolites. This included metabolites that were associated with multiple, distinct loci, indicating coordinated regulation between multiple genes (including drug transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes) of specific metabolites. We analyzed existing pharmacogenomic data and noted SNPs implicated in endogenous metabolite handling (e.g., rs4149056 in
) also affecting drug ADME. The overall results support the existence of close relationships, via interactions with signaling metabolites, between drug transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes that are part of the Remote Sensing and Signaling Network, and with GPCRs and nuclear receptors. These analyses highlight the potential for drug-metabolite interactions at the interfaces of the Remote Sensing and Signaling Network and the ADME protein network.
A new automated control system is developed for the In-Gas Laser Ionization and Spectroscopy (IGLIS) laboratory at KU Leuven. The IGLIS Control System is capable of stabilizing a narrowband ...single-mode tunable diode laser with a standard deviation of 1.14 MHz. Furthermore, the system controls and synchronizes all data acquisition for multiple techniques from resonant laser spectroscopy in gas cell or in gas jet to atomic Planar-Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) spectroscopy of copper atoms seeded in a supersonic gas jet. The IGLIS Control System is validated by measuring the hyperfine splitting parameters of the ground state transition at 327 nm in 63Cu.
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between stride angle and running economy (RE) in athletes with different foot strike patterns. 30 male runners completed 4 min running stages on a ...treadmill at different velocities. During the test, biomechanical variables such as stride angle, swing time, contact time, stride length and frequency were recorded using an optical measurement system. Their foot strike pattern was determined, and VO2 at velocities below the lactate threshold were measured to calculate RE. Midfoot/forefoot strikers had better RE than rearfoot strikers (201.5±5.6 ml · kg(-1) · km(-1) vs. 213.5±4.2 ml · kg(-1) · km(-1)respectively; p=0.019). Additionally, midfoot/fore-foot strikers presented higher stride angles than rearfoot strikers (p=0.043). Linear modelling analysis showed that stride angle is closely related to RE (r=0.62, p<0.001) and that the effect of stride angle on RE was different in the 2 groups. From an arbitrary value of 4°, a rearfoot strike pattern is likely to be more economical, whereas at any lower degree, the midfoot/forefoot strike pattern appears to be more desirable. A biomechanical running technique characterised by high stride angles and a midfoot/forefoot strike pattern is advantageous for a better RE. Athletes may find stride angle useful for improving RE.
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