•Characteristic histological change is associated with dietary cereal proportion.•Immune-related cells are found in higher densities in cattle on lower cereal diets.•Cereal proportion is associated ...with cell layer thickness, integrity, and sloughing.•No benefit of Elastin Martius Scarlet Blue stain use over Haematoxylin and Eosin.•Novel scoring system can differentiate groups by approximate dietary cereal level.
High levels of supplementation with cereal increases production rates in cattle but can increase incidence of disease, ranging from mild indigestion to acute ruminal acidosis and death. Therefore, there is motivation to determine biological markers which can be used to identify whether animals have been, or are being fed, sufficient or excessive cereals. This study aimed to describe light microscopic findings from animals being fed diverse dietary cereal proportions and to test the performance of a novel rumen epithelial scoring system. Rumen wall tissue samples were obtained from the abattoir from 195 cattle from 11 Scottish farms and processed for histological examination. Light microscopic examination was used to characterise ruminal epithelial response to dietary challenge. Secondary objectives included describing the distribution of immune-related cells in bovine ruminal epithelium and assessing the use of a modified Elastin Martius Scarlet Blue stain (EMSB) for histological examination of the rumen epithelium. Cells staining positive for cluster of differentiation 3 were distributed mainly in the lower layers of the stratum basale and were found in higher densities in animals offered lower cereal proportion diets. Cells staining positive for major histocompatibility complex class 2 (MHCII) were most common in perivascular locations and in the junction between the lower stratum basale and the propria-submucosa. The density of MHCII positive staining cells was higher in animals on lower cereal diets. The level of supplementation with cereal was also associated with the thickness of the stratum corneum (SCT) and stratum granulosum (SGT), the integrity of the stratum corneum and sloughing of cornified cells. There were no advantages in using EMSB stain over haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) in this scoring system. We concluded that a scoring system that included only SCT, SGT and a measure of the loss of appearance of intercellular space allowed differentiation of groups of animals according to the level of cereal supplementation.
A theoretical study using density functional theory is undertaken to gain insight into how the structural, electronic, and electron‐transfer characteristics of three Fluoroarene‐oligothiophene ...semiconductors influence the preferred transport of electrons versus holes in field‐effect transistor applications. The intermolecular electronic coupling interactions are analyzed through both a simplified energy‐splitting in dimer (ESID) model and as a function of the entire dimer Hamiltonian in order to understand the impact of site energy differences; our results indicate that these differences are generally negligible for the series and, hence, use of the ESID model is valid. In addition, we also investigate the reduction and oxidation processes to understand the magnitudes of the intramolecular reorganization energy for the charge‐hopping process and expected barrier heights for electron and hole injection into these materials. From the electronic coupling and intramolecular reorganization energies, estimates of the nearest‐neighbor electron‐transfer hopping rate constant for electrons are obtained. The ionization energetics suggest favored electron injection for the system with perfluoroarene groups at the end of the thiophene core, in agreement with experiments. The combined analyses of the electron‐transfer properties and ionization processes suggest possible ambipolar behavior for these materials under favorable device conditions.
A theoretical study of three fluoroarene‐oligothiophene semiconductors is undertaken to understand the preferred propensity for electron versus hole transport. Combined analyses of ionization processes and electron‐ transfer properties suggest possible ambipolar behavior in organic field‐ effect transistors fabricated with these materials.
Summary
Background
Although the short‐term benefits of a sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon‐based therapies of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are well known, the long‐term consequences of ...SVR are less clear.
Aim
To assess changes in markers of disease activity and fibrosis in patients followed up to 23 years post‐SVR.
Methods
The first 103 SVR patients (from 1984 to 2003) at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center were evaluated. Serum markers before treatment and at the last visit were compared. Evaluations after 2007 included transient elastography (TE).
Results
Of 103 patients, three subsequently relapsed 0.7, 6.3 and 6.5 years post therapy. The remaining 100 patients (56 men, mean age 56 years) maintained SVR at final follow‐up. No patients developed hepatic decompensation, but one with pre‐treatment cirrhosis died 12 years post SVR of hepatocellular carcinoma. In comparison to pre‐treatment values, markers improved at follow‐up, including mean ALT (152–27 U/L), AST (87–24 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (78–69 U/L), IgG (1463–1113 mg/dL), platelet count (209 000–239 000/μL) and AST to platelet count ratio index (APRI: 1.31–0.33). TE was performed in 69 patients and was normal (<7.0 kPA) in 60%, moderately elevated (7.1–13.8) in 31% and cirrhotic range (>13.8) in 9%. TE and platelet counts at follow‐up correlated with fibrosis on pre‐treatment liver biopsy (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
In 97% of patients with CHC, SVR is durable without evidence of disease progression, although some degree of hepatic fibrosis may persist and patients with pre‐treatment cirrhosis are at continuing low risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Aim
To determine whether irisin, a newly discovered myokine that links exercise‐induced and metabolic homeostasis, is able to promote odontogenic differentiation and angiogenesis in human dental pulp ...cells (HDPCs).
Methodology
Cell viability in the presence of irisin was measured. Real‐time PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the expression levels of irisin, odontogenic and angiogenic markers. The involvement of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the protein kinase B (Akt) signalling pathway was evaluated by Western blot. To evaluate mineralization nodule formation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red S staining were performed. Scratch wound assays were performed to evaluate the effects of irisin on cell migration. The data were analysed using one‐way analysis of variance (anova) followed by Tukey post hoc test and Student’s t‐test. Statistical significance was considered at P < 0.05.
Results
Irisin significantly promoted odontogenic differentiation as evidenced by formation of mineralized nodules, induction of ALP activity and upregulation of odontogenic and angiogenic markers (P < 0.05). Scratch wound assays revealed that irisin significantly increased migration of HDPCs (P < 0.05). Phosphorylation of both MAPK and Akt was increased by irisin. MAPK and Akt inhibitors inhibited mineralization, cell migration and the increased expression of odontogenic and angiogenic markers.
Conclusions
Irisin promoted odontogenic differentiation and mineralization and has the potential for angiogenesis through activation of the MAPK and Akt signalling pathways in HDPCs.
Osteoblasts and adipocytes are differentiated from common mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in processes which are tightly controlled by various growth factors, signaling molecules, transcriptional ...factors and microRNAs. Recently, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) was identified as a critical regulator of MSC fate. In the present study, we aimed to identify some microRNAs (miR), which target COUP-TFII, and to determine the effects on MSCs fate. During osteoblastic or adipocytic differentiation from MSCs lineage cells, miR-194 expression was found to be reversal. In the cultures of mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 and primary bone marrow stromal cells, osteogenic stimuli increased miR-194 expression with accompanying decreases in COUP-TFII expression, whereas adipogenic stimuli reduced miR-194 expression with accompanying increases in COUP-TFII expression. A luciferase assay with COUP-TFII 3'-untranslated region (UTR) reporter plasmid, including the miR-194 binding sequences, showed that the introduction of miR-194 reduced the luciferase activity. However, it did not affect the activity of mutated COUP-TFII 3'-UTR reporter. Enforced expression of miR-194 significantly enhanced osteoblast differentiation, but inhibited adipocyte differentiation by decreasing COUP-TFII mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, inhibition of the endogenous miR-194 reduced matrix mineralization in the MSCs cultures, promoting the formation of lipid droplets by rescuing COUP-TFII expression. Furthermore, overexpression of COUP-TFII reversed the effects of miR-194 on the cell fates. Taken together, our results showed that miR-194 acts as a critical regulator of COUP-TFII, and can determinate the fate of MSCs to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. This suggests that miR-194 and COUP-TFII may be good target molecules for controlling bone and metabolic diseases.
Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate clone 15 (Eps15) is a protein implicated in endocytosis, endosomal protein sorting, and cytoskeletal organization. Its role is, however, still ...unclear, because of reasons including limitations of dominant-negative experiments and apparent redundancy with other endocytic proteins. We generated Drosophila eps15-null mutants and show that Eps15 is required for proper synaptic bouton development and normal levels of synaptic vesicle (SV) endocytosis. Consistent with a role in SV endocytosis, Eps15 moves from the center of synaptic boutons to the periphery in response to synaptic activity. The endocytic protein, Dap160/intersectin, is a major binding partner of Eps15, and eps15 mutants phenotypically resemble dap160 mutants. Analyses of eps15 dap160 double mutants suggest that Eps15 functions in concert with Dap160 during SV endocytosis. Based on these data, we hypothesize that Eps15 and Dap160 promote the efficiency of endocytosis from the plasma membrane by maintaining high concentrations of multiple endocytic proteins, including dynamin, at synapses.
BMP2/7 heterodimer expression by adenovirus can stimulate bone formation at subcutaneous sites. In the present study, we evaluate whether this approach will also promote healing of cranial defects. ...Adenovirus expressing BMP2 or BMP7 (AdBMP2, AdBMP7) was titrated to yield equivalent BMP protein levels after transduction into murine BLK cells. Analysis of conditioned medium showed that BMP2/7 heterodimers have enhanced ability to stimulate alkaline phosphatase and Smad 1,5,8 phosphorylation relative to equivalent amounts of BMP2 or BMP7 homodimers. To measure bone regeneration, we implanted virally transduced BLK cells into critical-sized calvarial defects generated in C57BL6 mice. AdBMP2/7-transduced cells were more effective in healing cranial defects than were cells individually transduced with AdBMP2 or BMP7. Dramatic increases in bone volume fraction, as measured by microCT, as well as fusion of regenerated bone with the defect margins were noted. Thus, the use of gene therapy to express heterodimeric BMPs is a promising potential therapy for healing craniofacial bones.
Singapore is one of the fastest-aging populations due to increased life expectancy and lowered fertility. Lifestyle changes increase the burden of chronic diseases and disability. These have ...important implications for social protection systems. The goal of this paper is to model future functional disability and healthcare expenditures based on current trends.
To project the health, disability and hospitalization spending of future elders, we adapted the Future Elderly Model (FEM) to Singapore. The FEM is a dynamic Markov microsimulation model developed in the US. Our main source of population data was the Singapore Chinese Health Study (SCHS) consisting of 63,000 respondents followed up over three waves from 1993 to 2010. The FEM model enables us to investigate the effects of disability compounded over the lifecycle and hospitalization spending, while adjusting for competing risk of multi-comorbidities.
Results indicate that by 2050, 1 in 6 elders in Singapore will have at least one ADL disability and 1 in 3 elders will have at least one IADL disability, an increase from 1 in 12 elders and 1 in 5 elders respectively in 2014. The highest prevalence of functional disability will be in those aged 85 years and above. Lifetime hospitalization spending of elders aged 55 and above is US$24,400 (30.2%) higher among people with functional disability compared to those without disability.
Policies that successfully tackle diabetes and promote healthy living may reduce or delay the onset of disability, leading to potential saving. In addition, further technological improvements may reduce the financial burden of disability.
Sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) can reduce the production efficiency and impair the welfare of cattle, potentially in all production systems. The aim of this study was to characterise measurable ...postmortem observations from divergently managed intensive beef finishing farms with high rates of concentrate feeding. At the time of slaughter, we obtained samples from 19 to 20 animals on each of 6 beef finishing units (119 animals in total) with diverse feeding practices, which had been subjectively classified as being high risk (three farms) or low risk (three farms) for SARA on the basis of the proportions of barley, silage and straw in the ration. We measured the concentrations of histamine, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lactate and other short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in ruminal fluid, LPS and SCFA in caecal fluid. We also took samples of the ventral blind sac of the rumen for histopathology, immunohistopathology and gene expression. Subjective assessments were made of the presence of lesions on the ruminal wall, the colour of the lining of the ruminal wall and the shape of the ruminal papillae. Almost all variables differed significantly and substantially among farms. Very few pathological changes were detected in any of the rumens examined. The animals on the high-risk diets had lower concentrations of SCFA and higher concentrations of lactate and LPS in the ruminal fluid. Higher LPS concentrations were found in the caecum than the rumen but were not related to the risk status of the farm. The diameters of the stratum granulosum, stratum corneum and of the vasculature of the papillae, and the expression of the gene TLR4 in the ruminal epithelium were all increased on the high-risk farms. The expression of IFN-γ and IL-1β and the counts of cluster of differentiation 3 positive and major histocompatibility complex class two positive cells were lower on the high-risk farms. High among-farm variation and the unbalanced design inherent in this type of study in the field prevented confident assignment of variation in the dependent variables to individual dietary components; however, the CP percentage of the total mixed ration DM was the factor that was most consistently associated with the variables of interest. Despite the strong effect of farm on the measured variables, there was wide inter-animal variation.
ATF6 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-bound transcription factor that regulates various cellular functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of ATF6 in odontoblast ...differentiation. Rat tooth germs were isolated, changes in gene expression were evaluated over time, and localization of ATF6 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) were cultured with 50 µg/mL ascorbic acid and 5 mmol/L β-glycerophosphate or 100 ng/mL bone morphogenetic protein 2 to induce differentiation. Translocation of ATF6 was observed by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Overexpression of ATF6 was performed with an adenoviral vector. Matrix mineralization was evaluated by alizarin red staining. Immunoreactivity to anti-ATF6 was observed in the odontoblastic layer of the molar tooth germ, and expressions of ATF6, dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) increased gradually during tooth germ development. When HDPCs were cultured in differentiation media, ATF6, DSPP, and DMP1 expression increased with the expression of unfolded protein response (UPR) markers, BiP and CHOP. Immunofluorescence results showed that ATF6 protein moved from cytoplasm to nucleus when cells were exposed to differentiation media. Notably, overexpression of ATF6 increased DSPP and DMP1 expression, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and matrix mineralization in HDPC cultures. Inhibition of ATF6 decreased ALP activity and mineralization. These results suggest that ER membrane-bound transcriptional factor ATF6 may be involved in odontoblastic differentiation.
PDF
