•Oral fatty acid supplementation led to a significant decrease in cyclosporine dose in atopic dogs.•Pruritus was better controlled with concurrent oral fatty acids in atopic dogs on ...cyclosporine.•Adverse events on this combination therapy were mild and predominantly gastrointestinal.
A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multicentre trial was conducted in 36 dogs with atopic dermatitis to evaluate the cyclosporine-sparing effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Dogs were stable on their individual cyclosporine dosage and received either a mainly omega-3 fatty acid product with a minor omega-6 fatty acid fraction or placebo, orally for 12 weeks. Dogs were examined every 4 weeks and the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03) was determined by a clinician. Pruritus, quality of life, global condition and coat quality were scored by the owner. If the dog's CADESI-03 and/or pruritus score improved by at least 25% compared with the previous visit, the cyclosporine dosage was decreased by approximately 25%. If the scores deteriorated by at least 25%, the cyclosporine dosage was increased by the same percentage.
The median daily cyclosporine dosage/kg bodyweight decreased in the active group from 4.1 mg to 2.6 mg and in the placebo group from 3.5 mg to 3.3 mg over the study period. The difference between the two groups was significant (P = 0.009). The improvement in median pruritus score from inclusion to completion was significantly greater in the active group than in the placebo group (P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in CADESI-03 changes between groups (P = 0.38). The results of this study indicate a cyclosporine-sparing effect of a mainly omega-3 fatty acid supplement in dogs with atopic dermatitis.
Loss of function of DJ‐1 (PARK7) is associated with autosomal recessive early‐onset Parkinson's disease (PD), one of the major age‐related neurological diseases. In this study, we extended former ...studies on DJ‐1 knockout mice by identifying subtle morphological and behavioural phenotypes. The DJ‐1 gene trap‐induced null mutants exhibit less dopamine‐producing neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). They also exhibit slight changes in behaviour, i.e. diminished rearing behaviour and impairments in object recognition. Furthermore, we detected subtle phenotypes, which suggest that these animals compensate for the loss of DJ‐1. First, we found a significant upregulation of mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activities, a mechanism known to protect against oxidative stress. Second, a close to significant increase in c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase 1 phosphorylation in old DJ‐1‐deficient mice hints at a differential activation of neuronal cell survival pathways. Third, as no change in the density of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive terminals in the striatum was observed, the remaining dopamine‐producing neurons likely compensate by increasing axonal sprouting. In summary, the present data suggest that DJ‐1 is implicated in major non‐motor symptoms of PD appearing in the early phases of the disease—such as subtle impairments in motivated behaviour and cognition—and that under basal conditions the loss of DJ‐1 is compensated
Dermatomyositis in a family of Working Kelpies Röthig, A; Rüfenacht, S; Welle, M M ...
Tierärztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere,
2015, Letnik:
43, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Eight members of a family of Working Kelpies were presented with signs compatible with dermatomyositis. Alopecia, crusts, ulcerations of the skin, depigmentation of nasal planum and lips, ...onychodystrophy and atrophy of the masticatory muscles were present with varying degree. Histopathology of the skin, but not from muscles was performed in three dogs and confirmed the clinical diagnosis. Different immunomodulating drugs (steroids, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, pentoxifylline, doxycyline/niacinamid, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E) were used with variable success. Dermatomyositis is an immune-mediated disease and a genetic predisposition is known in humans and certain canine breeds, mainly Shetland Sheepdogs and Collies, but also for the Beauceron. The responsible genes have not been identified so far. It is assumed that the Working Kelpie derives from the Collie which could explain a hereditary predisposition in the Kelpie.
The missing influence of estrogen on endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase often forms the basis for a worsening of the cardiac risk profile for women in postmenopause. Various studies have shown ...that decreasing estrogen levels also directly effect the expression of PTHrP and TGFβ1. PTHrP is involved in the endothelium-dependent regulation of coronary resistance and cardiac function. The current study investigates to what extent chronic NO deficit affects the cardiac effects of PTHrP. NO deficit was achieved in female adult rats by feeding them the NO synthase inhibitor N-omega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester over a period of 4 wk. Isolated hearts of the conditioned animals were investigated in Langendorff technique and perfused for 3 min with 100 nM PTHrP. The contraction behavior of isolated cardiomyocytes was registered in a cell-edge detection system. Hearts from untreated animals displayed a significant drop in left ventricular developed pressure and a pronounced increase in heart rate in consequence of short term PTHrP stimulation. In hearts from NO-deficient rats PTHrP no longer affected the inotropy and chronotropy. The vasodilating effect of PTHrP on coronary vessels was, however, independent of the NO level. These changes were accompanied by a differing expression of the PTH1 receptor. TGFβ1 was identified as an important mediator for the regulation of the PTH1 receptor in myocytic but not endothelial cells. These results indicate that chronic NO deficit down-regulates the PTH1 receptor in a TGFβ1-dependent way. These findings are important with respect to the relatively new therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis with PTHrP analogs.
Chronic NO deficit, a common problem in postmenopausal woman, is responsible for the loss of cardiac but not vascular effects of PTHrP due to a downregulation of the PTH1 receptor.
Protozoan predators form an essential component of activated sludge communities that is tightly linked to wastewater treatment efficiency. Nonetheless, very little is known how protozoan predation is ...channelled via bacterial communities to affect ecosystem functioning. Therefore, we experimentally manipulated protozoan predation pressure in activated-sludge communities to determine its impacts on microbial diversity, composition and putative functionality. Different components of bacterial diversity such as taxa richness, evenness, genetic diversity and beta diversity all responded strongly and positively to high protozoan predation pressure. These responses were non-linear and levelled off at higher levels of predation pressure, supporting predictions of hump-shaped relationships between predation pressure and prey diversity. In contrast to predation intensity, the impact of predator diversity had both positive (taxa richness) and negative (evenness and phylogenetic distinctiveness) effects on bacterial diversity. Furthermore, predation shaped the structure of bacterial communities. Reduction in top-down control negatively affected the majority of taxa that are generally associated with increased treatment efficiency, compromising particularly the potential for nitrogen removal. Consequently, our findings highlight responses of bacterial diversity and community composition as two distinct mechanisms linking protozoan predation with ecosystem functioning in activated sludge communities.
Coral bleaching continues to be one of the most devastating and immediate impacts of climate change on coral reef ecosystems worldwide. In 2015, a major bleaching event was declared as the "3rd ...global coral bleaching event" by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, impacting a large number of reefs in every major ocean. The Red Sea was no exception, and we present herein in situ observations of the status of coral reefs in the central Saudi Arabian Red Sea from September 2015, following extended periods of high temperatures reaching upwards of 32.5°C in our study area. We examined eleven reefs using line-intercept transects at three different depths, including all reefs that were surveyed during a previous bleaching event in 2010. Bleaching was most prevalent on inshore reefs (55.6% ± 14.6% of live coral cover exhibited bleaching) and on shallower transects (41% ± 10.2% of live corals surveyed at 5m depth) within reefs. Similar taxonomic groups (e.g., Agariciidae) were affected in 2015 and in 2010. Most interestingly, Acropora and Porites had similar bleaching rates (~30% each) and similar relative coral cover (~7% each) across all reefs in 2015. Coral genera with the highest levels of bleaching (>60%) were also among the rarest (<1% of coral cover) in 2015. While this bodes well for the relative retention of coral cover, it may ultimately lead to decreased species richness, often considered an important component of a healthy coral reef. The resultant long-term changes in these coral reef communities remain to be seen.
Coral reefs in the central Red Sea are sparsely studied and in situ data on physico-chemical and key biotic variables that provide an important comparative baseline are missing. To address this gap, ...we simultaneously monitored three reefs along a cross-shelf gradient for an entire year over four seasons, collecting data on currents, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), chlorophyll-a, turbidity, inorganic nutrients, sedimentation, bacterial communities of reef water, and bacterial and algal composition of epilithic biofilms. Summer temperature (29-33°C) and salinity (39 PSU) exceeded average global maxima for coral reefs, whereas DO concentration was low (2-4 mg L-1). While temperature and salinity differences were most pronounced between seasons, DO, chlorophyll-a, turbidity, and sedimentation varied most between reefs. Similarly, biotic communities were highly dynamic between reefs and seasons. Differences in bacterial biofilms were driven by four abundant families: Rhodobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Flammeovirgaceae, and Pseudanabaenaceae. In algal biofilms, green crusts, brown crusts, and crustose coralline algae were most abundant and accounted for most of the variability of the communities. Higher bacterial diversity of biofilms coincided with increased algal cover during spring and summer. By employing multivariate matching, we identified temperature, salinity, DO, and chlorophyll-a as the main contributing physico-chemical drivers of biotic community structures. These parameters are forecast to change most with the progression of ocean warming and increased nutrient input, which suggests an effect on the recruitment of Red Sea benthic communities as a result of climate change and anthropogenic influence. In conclusion, our study provides insight into coral reef functioning in the Red Sea and a comparative baseline to support coral reef studies in the region.
In order to examine the potential interactive pressures of local pollution and global climate change, we exposed corals and crustose coralline algae (CCA) to three agricultural photosystemII (PSII) ...herbicides at four temperatures (26–32°C). The coral Acropora millepora was 3–to 10-fold more sensitive to the three herbicides than the CCA Neogoniolithon fosliei. While the photosynthesis of CCA was not affected by the herbicide concentrations used (< 1 μg L−1), temperatures of 31°C and 32°C alone significantly inhibited photosynthetic efficiency (ΔF:F′m) and caused chronic photoinhibition (reduced Fv : Fm) and substantial bleaching. Environmentally relevant concentrations of each herbicide increased the negative effects of thermal stress on coral at 31°C and 32°C. Mixed model analyses of variance showed that the effects of elevated sea surface temperatures (SST) and herbicide on photosynthetic efficiency of coral symbionts were additive. Furthermore, the effect of either diuron or atrazine in combination with higher SST (31°C and 32°C) on chronic photoinhibition was distinctly greater than additive (synergistic). Reducing the herbicide concentration by 1 μg L−1 diuron above 30°C would protect photosynthetic efficiency by the equivalent of 1.8°C and reduce chronic photoinhibition by the equivalent of a 1°C reduction. Reduced water quality increases the vulnerability of corals to elevated SSTs, and effective management of local water quality can reduce negative effects of global stressors such as elevated SST.
The addition of small amounts of certain gases, such as O2, CO, and SO2, may mitigate hydrogen embrittlement in high-pressure gas transmission pipelines that transport hydrogen. To practically ...implement such inhibition in gas transmission pipelines, a comprehensive understanding and quantification of this effect are essential. This review examines the impact of various added gases to hydrogen, including typical odorants, on gaseous hydrogen embrittlement of steels and evaluates their inhibition effectiveness. O2, CO, and SO2 were found to be effective inhibitors of hydrogen embrittlement. Yet, the results in the literature have not always been consistent, partly because of the diverse range of mechanical tests and their parameters. The absence of systematic studies hinders the evaluation of the feasibility of using gas phase inhibitors for controlling gaseous hydrogen embrittlement. A method to quantify the effectiveness of gas phase inhibition is proposed using gas phase permeation studies.
•Concise review of hydrogen embrittlement and control strategies in hydrogen pipelines.•Comprehensive literature review of gas phase inhibition of hydrogen embrittlement.•Inhibition effectiveness based on mechanical testing was evaluated and tabulated.•O2, CO or SO2 are strong candidates for gas phase inhibition.•Typical gas odorants have no significant inhibition effect on hydrogen embrittlement.
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