[Thiamine and its derivates in cattle blood measured by HPLC in healthy animals, in patients suffering from CCN and in their cohorts]

The aim of this project was to develop a routine method to measure thiamine and its derivates in blood, to detect the need of vitamin B1-supply in cattle faster and more precise than until now using the transketolase test. For that, thiamine and its derivates (thiaminediphosphate = TDP,-monophosphate = TMP) were analysed in cattle blood by HPLC technique with post-column derivatization. Moreover, the levels in healthy cattle were compared with those in herds with single CCN cases. EDTA-blood-stored up to 10 days by 6 or 20 degrees C- was the most appropriate substrate. Sensitivitiy and specifity were significantly better than (TT, sum of all fractions): 1.95% and 2.10%; thiamine and TMP: 7.02% and 9.17%. The lowest concentration, which could be measured, was 0.5 ng/ml. 72 samples could be analysed daily. In the blood of 280 healthy calves and cows (group A), 201 clinically unsuspicious animals out of stocks with single cases of CCN (group B) and 12 patients with clinical obvious CCN (group C), thiamine and its phosphates were measured and the means calculated (ng/ml). After this, the thiamine status is characterized by (ng/ml): (A) thiamine 13.5 (4.61-28.8),TDP 51.0 (33.1-82.2), TMP 8.79 (2.23-18.1),TT 73.3 (44.6-114); (B) thiamine 8.73 (0.00-20.0), TDP 43.5 (15.5-75.7),TMP 6.15 (0.00-16.6), TT 59.4 (18.7-96.5); (C) thiamine 3.85 (0.00-1 1.5), TDP 14.5 (0.00-28.3), TMP 1.27 (0.00-4.87), TTP 19.6 (4.92-35.9). So, HPLC with post-column derivatization offers a precise, automatically working method for a fast diagnose of thiamine deficiency. The lowest critical value of TT is 40 ng/ml for healthy animals in the blood. The sample (EDTA-blood) can be posted simply at temperatures up to 20 degrees C. In comparison to other measuring methods, this HPLC-technique enables an early recognition of the risk to come down with CCN in endangered cattle herds.

Harnwegsinfektionen im Säuglings- und Kindesalter

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common bacterial infections in infants and children. The early diagnosis of a pyelonephritis and its rapid, calculated antibacterial therapy are decisive for the prognosis. Urogenital anomalies, renal damage and bladder dysfunction may influence the risk of recurrences of UTI and pyelonephritic scarring. Diagnostic strategies therefore should focus on their early recognition. Pediatricians, urologists and infectiologists are cooperating in diagnostic, therapy and prophylaxis of UTI. The aim of the interdisciplinary consensus presented was to work out a concept which may help to manage childhood UTI in daily practice.

The influence of an increased cobalt supply to dairy cows on the vitamin B status of their calves

In the experiment the influence of an elevated oral cobalt supply (Co content in the ration 0.27 mg Co/kg DM; supplement of 0.14 mg Co/kg DM as CoSO(4)) to pregnant dairy cows on the vitamin B(12) concentration in milk, colostrum and vitamin B(12) status of their calves was tested in comparison with unsupplemented controls (0.13 mg Co/kg DM). While there was no significant difference in vitamin B(12) concentration in the at 70th day of lactation (start of the experiment; 3.77 +/- 1.41 vs. 3.66 +/- 1.03 ng/ml) and 290th day of lactation (almost drying off; 4.75 +/- 3.05 vs. 4.44 +/- 0.96 ng/ml), cobalamin concentration in the milk colostrum showed a tendency towards a higher cobalt content in the ration of the supplemented cows in comparison with the controls (21.0 +/- 8.4 vs. 16.7 +/- 11.9 ng/ml). Differences in the vitamin B(12) concentration in the serum of the newborn calves before and after ingestion of colostrum were not detected. From these results it can be concluded that cobalt content of 0.13 mg Co/kg DM in the ration based on wilted grass silage seems to be sufficient for pregnant dairy cows.

Electrical interaction of mechanosensitive fibroblasts and myocytes in the heart

Fibroblasts in the heart can respond to mechanical deformation of the plasma membrane with characteristic changes of their membrane potential. Membrane depolarization of the fibroblasts occurs during the myocardial contractions and is caused by an influx of cations, mainly of sodium ions, into the cells. Conversely, application of mechanical stretch to the cells, i.e., during diastolic relaxation of the myocardium, will hyperpolarize the membrane potential of the fibroblasts due to reduced sodium entry. Thus, cardiac fibroblasts can function as mechano-electric transducers that are possibly involved in the mechano-electric feedback mechanism of the heart. Mechano-electric feedback refers to the phenomenon, that the cardiac mechanical environment, which depends on the variable filling pressure of the ventricles, modulates the electrical function of the heart. Increased sensitivity of the cardiac fibroblasts to mechanical forces may contribute to the electrical instability and arrhythmic disposition of the heart after myocardial infarction. Novel findings indicate that these processes involve the intercellular transfer of electrical signals between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes via gap junctions. In this article we will discuss the recent progress in the electrophysiology of cardiac fibroblasts. The main focus will be on the intercellular pathways through which fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes communicate with each other.

[Survival analysis of German Holstein cows after an abomasal displacement]

From 1996 to 2002 5159 cattle with abomasal displacement was treated in the Clinic for Cattle, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. An analysis of systematic effects on influences on the length of survival following surgical correction of the abomasal displacement could be performed for 1411 cows. These animals were under the official milk recording scheme. Significant influences on lifetime after an abomasal displacement were interval between calving and diagnosis of disease, lactation number, type of abomasal displacement, inbreeding coefficient, calving difficulties, region of origin and sire of the calf. The lifetime after an abomasal displacement significantly differed between several months of calving and some sires of the cow. The individual milk yield in lactations before and after abomasal displacement of the cow was significant for the length of lifetime. The heritability estimate for length of lifetime after abomasal displacement using residual maximum likelihood (REML) in a linear animal model was h2 = 0.01-0.03.

[Hyperextension of fetlock joints in German Holstein and German Holstein-Limousin crossbred calves]

In two different dairy farms six calves exhibiting bilateral flexion of the fetlock joints in front or rear legs were born in 2000 to 2002. Four of the affected calves from the same farm were crossbred between German Holstein cows with red and white coat colour and a bull of the breed Limousin. The other two affected calves born on another farm were purebred German Holsteins with a black and white coat colour. The tests for BVD virus antigen and antibodies were negative in all affected calves. Three of the calves showed a lower selen and a higher glutamate dehydrogenase concentration in the analyses of blood metabolites. Two crossbred calves showed a degeneration of the liver with a progressive periportal fibrosis in a histological examination. In one calf an edema of astrocytes of the central nervous system was seen. The analysis of the pedigrees revealed for the four crossbred calves the Limousin bull as common ancestor and the mothers of the calves as relatives. For the affected purebred German Holstein calves also a sire was identified as a common ancestor. The pedigrees support inheritance through a monogenic autosomal recessive locus or more recessive gene loci with variable expressivity. However, the analysis could not clarify whether different gene loci are responsible for the congenital anomalies observed in the calves from the two farms and thus, the observed anomalies may be different genetic entities. Obvious environmental reasons were not found.

Antiviral treatment and prophylaxis of influenza in primary care: German recommendations

Antiviral drugs are a valuable supplementation to vaccines for the control and prevention of influenza. In Germany, for treating influenza amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir are approved. Amantadine and oseltamivir are also licensed for prophylactic use. On behalf of the Paul-Ehrlich-Society of Germany and the German Association for the Control of Virus Diseases, as two independent scientific societies, the first consensus Conference on the Antiviral Treatment and Prophylaxis of Influenza was held in June 2002. Based on the available data of clinical studies an expert group developed the following recommendations for the appropriate clinical use of the antiviral drugs: (1) since oseltamivir (orally administered) and zanamivir (administered by inhalation) have apparently similar clinical efficacy both drugs can be used alternatively for treatment. (2) Amantadine is not an alternative to the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors because it is not effective against influenza B viruses, it frequently selects resistant virus mutants and it can cause adverse events. (3) When influenza is prevalent in the community patients with the clinical diagnosis of influenza should be treated with neuraminidase inhibitors if the symptoms are lasting not longer than 48 h. (4) Immunocompetent patients with a non-febrile illness and patients with a symptom history of more than 2 days should not be treated with antiviral drugs. (5) Although there are no data from clinical trials immunocompromised patients should also be treated when influenza has been diagnosed. (6) The prophylactic use of antiviral drugs can be recommended for persons with close contact to acutely ill persons and no recent vaccination against influenza. (7) The use of anti-influenza drugs have to be considered for prophylaxis in pandemics. A precondition for the adequate use of anti-influenza drugs in the primary medical care is the timely information on the local influenza situation delivered by surveillance systems.

[Arthrogryposis associated with facial scoliosis and torticollis in German Holstein calves]

In 13 German Holstein calves from two different dairy farms arthrogryposis of the front legs, facial scoliosis and torticollis were observed. Obvious environmental reasons could not be found. Chromosomal anomalies in two affected calves were not detectable. A striking feature was the high frequency of affected calves among the offspring of one natural service sire. A plausible explanation of the congenital anomalies observed is a dominantly inherited mutation restricted to germ cells.

Relationships between lactational incidence of displaced abomasum and milk production traits in German Holstein cows

The objective of this study was to analyse the heritabilitiy of the lactational incidence of displaced abomasum (DA) and the relationships of DA with milk production traits in German Holstein cows. Data were recorded between February 1999 and January 2000 in cooperation with five veterinary practitioners. Their veterinary practices were located in the northern part of Lower Saxony. The investigation included 160 dairy farms under the official milk-recording scheme with 9,315 cows. The lactational incidence of the left abomasal displacement amounted to 1.21%, and of the right abomasal displacement to 0.41%, respectively. The linear heritability estimates for the lactational incidences of left and right DA were h(2) = 0.05 +/- 0.012 and h(2) = 0.004 +/- 0.005, respectively. Using the Dempster-Lerner-transformation the corresponding heritabilities were h(2) = 0.53 and 0.09, respectively. Milk losses for the lactation when DA was diagnosed were significant and reached 1016 kg milk, 41 kg fat, 36 kg protein and 0.07% protein. Fat content significantly increased by 0.18%. The analysis could not show significant differences between cows diagnosed with DA and cows not diagnosed with DA in the 305-day milk production traits of the lactation preceding the diagnosis of DA. There was also no indication for an unequal distribution of breeding values for milk performance traits between cows with and without DA. The additive genetic correlations between 305-day milk performance and left DA were low. The results indicated that cows with a high milk production and superior breeding values for milk performance were not exposed to an increased risk for DA.

[Genetic analysis of the prevalence of abomasal displacement and its relationship to milk output characteristics in German Holstein cows]

Genetic parameters for the prevalence of abomasal displacement and for milk yield traits were estimated using a data set of 3578 cows. The animals originated from 50 farms near Hanover being under the official milk recording scheme. At these farms all cases of abomasal displacement in German Holsteins were registered from July 2001 to January 2003. Using REML heritability estimates in linear animal models were h2 = 0.034 +/- 0.014, h2 = 0.017 +/- 0.013 and h2 = 0.029 +/- 0.011 for all cases of abomasal displacement, leftsided abomasal displacement and rightsided abomasal displacement, respectively. Additive genetic correlations between all cases of abomasal displacement and milk yield traits were small, ranging from rg = -0.20 (fat content) to rg = 0.08 (milk kg). However, there was a highly positive additive genetic correlation between leftsided abomasal displacement and milk yield of rg = 0.683 +/- 0.227. Leftsided abomasal displacement was correlated additive genetically to fat and protein yield, fat and protein content with rg = 0.595 +/- 0.297, r9 = 0.653 +/- 0.250, rg = -0.768 +/- 0.3280 und rg = -0.643 +/- 0.354, respectively. The additive genetic correlation to the ratio between fat and protein content was rg = -0.585 +/- 0.470. For rightsided abomasal displacement, additive genetic correlations were of similar size but with reversed signs. The estimates obtained for the residual correlations were negligibly small throughout.

8-isoprostane increases scavenger receptor A and matrix metalloproteinase activity in THP-1 macrophages, resulting in long-lived foam cells

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress is a key factor in atherogenesis, in which it is closely associated with the inflammation and formation of bioactive lipids. Although 8-isoprostane is regarded as a reliable marker of oxidative stress in vivo, the pathogenic role of this F(2)-isoprostane in atherogenesis is far from clear. Based on the important role of foam cells in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis we hereby examined the ability of 8-isoprostane to modulate oxidized (ox)LDL-induced foam cell formation and the function of these cells, particularly focusing on the effect on matrix degradation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

8-isoprostane (10 micro M) augmented the oxLDL-induced (20 micro g mL(-1)) lipid accumulation of THP-1 macrophages evaluated by Oil-Red-O staining and lipid mass quantification (colourimetric assay). Additionally, 8-isoprostane induced the expression of the scavenger receptor A type 1 (MSR-1) [mRNA and protein level], assessed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Moreover, 8-isoprostane counteracted the oxLDL-induced apoptosis of these cells, involving both mitochondrial-protective and caspase-suppressive mechanisms. Along with these changes, 8-isoprostane increased the oxLDL-induced gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and its endogenous inhibitor [i.e. tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1] accompanied by enhanced total MMP activity.

CONCLUSIONS

We show that 8-isoprostane increases foam cell formation at least partly by enhancing MSR-1 expression and by inhibiting apoptosis of these cells, inducing long-lived foam cells with enhanced matrix degrading capacity. Our findings further support a role for 8-isoprostane not only as a marker of oxidative stress in patients with atherosclerotic disorders, but also as a mediator in atherogenesis and plaque destabilization.

[Influences on fermentation and thiamine metabolism in bovine rumen fluid (in vitro)--part 3: Effects of artificially contaminated hay with Cladosporium herbarum and Fusarium graminearum, respectively]

The influence of contaminated hay [Cladosporium herbarum (CL) and Fusarium graminearum (FU), respectively] on fermentation and thiamine metabolism of bovine rumen content was investigated using the longterm rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Six investigation periods 25 days long each were carried out. A nine days feeding period with normal hay was followed by the testphase I (five days) with a mixture of normal and mouldy hay and testphase II (five days) with additive an 0.3 mg thiamine per reaction vessel. The last four days served as regeneration time with normal hay. The following marginal effects of mouldy hay on rumen fermentation patterns could be noted. A) During testphase I: cellulase activity: +10.0% (FU); alternation of the thiamine derivate pattern, but no effect on total thiamine content (CL, FU). B) During testphase II the results were more obvious: bacterial protein synthesis: -22.6% (CL), -24.4% (FU). Alternation of the fatty acid pattern: propionate (-7.30% FU), n-butyrate (-3.90% CL, +3.49% FU), n-valerate (-8.5% CH, FU). Cellulase activity: -17.0% (CL, FU). But no effect on total thiamine (CL, FU); alternation of the thiamine derivate pattern: more non phosphorylate thiamine. The noted effects on rumen fermentation and thiamine metabolism were not severe enough to be responsible for the development of a CCN.

Inversion within the haloalkaliphilic virus φCh1 DNA results in differential expression of structural proteins

The sequence of phi Ch1 contains an open reading frame (int1) in the central part of its genome that belongs to the lambda integrase family of site-specific recombinases. Sequence similarities to known integrases include the highly conserved tetrad R-H-R-Y. The flanking sequences of int1 contain several direct repeats of 30 bp in length (IR-L and IR-R), which are orientated in an inverted direction. Here, we show that a recombination active region exists in the genome of phi Ch1: the number of those repeats, non-homologous regions within the repeat clusters IR-L and IR-R and the orientation of the int1 gene vary in a given virus population. Within this study, we identified circular intermediates, composed of the int1 gene and the inwards orientated repeat regions IR-L and IR-R, which could be involved in the recombination process itself. IR-L and IR-R are embedded within ORF34 and ORF36 respectively. As a consequence of the inversion within this region of phi Ch1, the C-terminal parts of the proteins encoded by ORF34 and 36 are exchanged. Both proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli, interact with specific antisera against whole virus particles, indicating that they could be parts of phi Ch1 virions. Expression of the protein(s) in Natrialba magadii could be detected 98 h after inoculation, which is similar to other structural proteins of phi Ch1. Taken together, the data show that the genome of phi Ch1 contains an invertible region that codes for a recombinase and structural proteins. Inversion of this segment results in a variation of these structural proteins.