Productive performance of weanling piglets was improved by administration of a mixture of bacteriophages, targeted to control Coliforms and Clostridium spp. shedding in a challenging environment

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of bacteriophages in different environments on growth performance, digestibility, ileal and caecal microbiota, gut morphology and immunity of weanling pigs. Two hundred piglets were randomly assigned to four treatment groups with five replicate pens with 10 pigs per pen. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to investigate the response of weanling pigs to supplemental bacteriophages (0 and 1.0 g/kg of diet) in contaminated or hygienic environments. Bacteriophages supplementation did not affect average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain:feed in phases I and III; however, there was a significant improvement in ADG and gain:feed in phase II. The supplementation of bacteriophages increased the overall gain:feed of pigs. The overall result showed a greater ADG and ADFI in hygienic room. There were reductions in population of both ileal (p < 0.05) and caecal (p < 0.01) Clostridium spp. and ileal coliforms (p < 0.01) with the inclusion of bacteriophages in the diet. Bacteriophages increased ileal Lactobacillus and caecal Bifidobacterium and tended to increase ileal Bifidobacterium (p = 0.08). Contaminated environment decreased ileal Lactobacillus and caecal Bifidobacterium and tended to increase ileal Clostridium (p = 0.08) and coliforms (p = 0.08). Total anaerobic bacteria was tended to decrease (p = 0.06) in contaminated environment. Jejunal villus height increased in pigs received bacteriophages, but they did not affect other morphological items. The interaction between bacteriophages and environment tended to be significant (p = 0.06) for ileal villus height and ileal villus height to crypt depth ratio. The overall faecal score was significantly greater in hygienic environment and bacteriophages groups. The present findings indicate that there is an interactive effect on feed efficiency between bacteriophages and contaminated environment. In addition, bacteriophages improve jejunum morphology, and intestinal microbiota of pigs.

Surveillance of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (CoV) infection in healthcare workers after contact with confirmed MERS patients: incidence and risk factors of MERS-CoV seropositivity

Given the mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), healthcare workers (HCWs) in contact with MERS patients are expected to be at risk of MERS infections. We evaluated the prevalence of MERS coronavirus (CoV) immunoglobulin (Ig) G in HCWs exposed to MERS patients and calculated the incidence of MERS-affected cases in HCWs. We enrolled HCWs from hospitals where confirmed MERS patients had visited. Serum was collected 4 to 6 weeks after the last contact with a confirmed MERS patient. We performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to screen for the presence of MERS-CoV IgG and an indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT) to confirm MERS-CoV IgG. We used a questionnaire to collect information regarding the exposure. We calculated the incidence of MERS-affected cases by dividing the sum of PCR-confirmed and serology-confirmed cases by the number of exposed HCWs in participating hospitals. In total, 1169 HCWs in 31 hospitals had contact with 114 MERS patients, and among the HCWs, 15 were PCR-confirmed MERS cases in study hospitals. Serologic analysis was performed for 737 participants. ELISA was positive in five participants and borderline for seven. IIFT was positive for two (0.3%) of these 12 participants. Among the participants who did not use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), seropositivity was 0.7% (2/294) compared to 0% (0/443) in cases with appropriate PPE use. The incidence of MERS infection in HCWs was 1.5% (17/1169). The seroprevalence of MERS-CoV IgG among HCWs was higher among participants who did not use appropriate PPE.

Field-driven domain wall motion under a bias current in the creep and flow regimes in Pt/[CoSiB/Pt]N nanowires

The dynamics of magnetic domain wall (DW) in perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Pt/[CoSiB/Pt]N nanowires was studied by measuring the DW velocity under a magnetic field (H) and an electric current (J) in two extreme regimes of DW creep and flow. Two important findings are addressed. One is that the field-driven DW velocity increases with increasing N in the flow regime, whereas the trend is inverted in the creep regime. The other is that the sign of spin current-induced effective field is gradually reversed with increasing N in both DW creep and flow regimes. To reveal the underlying mechanism of new findings, we performed further experiment and micromagnetic simulation, from which we found that the observed phenomena can be explained by the combined effect of the DW anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, spin-Hall effect, and spin-transfer torques. Our results shed light on the mechanism of DW dynamics in novel amorphous PMA nanowires, so that this work may open a path to utilize the amorphous PMA in emerging DW-based spintronic devices.

Analytical and experimental investigation of electrical characteristics of a metallic insulation GdBCO coil

This paper presents results, experimental and analytical, of the electrical characteristics of GdBCO single-pancake coils co-wound with a brass tape as metallic insulation (MI coil). The GdBCO pancakes were subjected to sudden discharge, charge-discharge, and over-current tests. The sudden discharge and charge-discharge test results of the MI coil demonstrated that MI coils can be charged and discharged significantly faster than non-insulated coils that are wound only with GdBCO tape. In over-current tests at 150 A (1.25I(c)), the MI coil exhibited better electrical behavior, i.e., self-protecting features, than its counterpart co-wound with Kapton tape, an insulator. Moreover, the experimental and analytical results are in agreement, validating the use of a concise equivalent parallel-RL circuit model for the MI coil to characterize its electrical behavior. Overall, the MI winding technique is highly promising to help build compact, mechanically robust, and self-protecting magnets composed of REBCO pancake coils. With no organic material in the winding, MI REBCO pancakes will be immune to neutron radiation damage, making the MI winding technique a viable option for fusion reactors, such as for toroidal field, poroidal field magnets, and central solenoid.

A Study of Piezoelectric Field Related Strain Difference in GaN-Based Blue Light-Emitting Diodes Grown on Silicon(111) and Sapphire Substrates

We investigate the strain difference in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells of blue light-emitting diode (LED) structures grown on silicon(1 11) and c-plane sapphire substrates by comparing the strength of piezo-electric fields in MQWs. The piezo-electric fields for two LED samples grown on silicon and sapphire substrates are measured by using the reverse-bias electro-reflectance (ER) spectroscopy. The flat-band voltage is obtained by measuring the applied reverse bias voltage that induces a phase inversion in the ER spectra, which is used to calculate the strength of piezo-electric fields. The piezo-electric field is determined to be 1.36 MV/cm for the LED on silicon substrate and 1.83 MV/cm for the LED on sapphire substrate. The ER measurement results indicate that the strain-induced piezo-electric field is greatly reduced in the LED grown on silicon substrates consistent with previous strain measurement results by micro-Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Effects of Gestational Housing on Reproductive Performance and Behavior of Sows with Different Backfat Thickness

The present study investigated the effects of back-fat thickness at d 107 of gestation and housing types during gestation on reproductive performance and behavior of sows. A total of 64 crossbred sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) in their 3 to 4 parities were allotted to one of four treatments (n = 16) over two consecutive parities. During each parity, sows were assigned to two gestational housing types (stall or group housing) and two level of back-fat thickness (<20 or ≥20) at d 107 of gestation. Gestating sows were transferred from gestational crates to stalls or pens (group housing) 5 weeks before farrowing. All sows were moved to farrowing crates on d 109 of gestation. At weaning, back-fat thickness changes were lesser (p<0.05) in sows having back-fat thickness <20 mm than that of sows with ≥20 mm back-fat thickness at 107 d of gestation. Group housed sows had greater (p<0.05) feed intake and shorter (p<0.05) weaning-to-estrus interval than that of sows in stalls. At weaning, back-fat thickness changes were lesser (p<0.05) in group housed sows than that of sows in stalls. The number of piglets at weaning, growth rate and average daily gain were greater (p<0.05) in group housed sows than that of sows in stalls. During gestation, walking duration was more (p<0.05) in group housed sows. Group housed sows had lesser (p<0.05) farrowing duration and greater (p<0.05) eating time than that of sows in stalls. Result obtained in present study indicated that sows with ≥20 mm back-fat thickness at 107 days had better reproductive performance. Additionally, group housing of sows during last five week of gestation improved the performance and behavior and reproductive efficiency of sows.

251 FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SUCCESS OF EQUINE INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION IN A CLINICAL PROGRAM

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is currently being used clinically in horses, but little information is available on factors affecting its success. We have conducted research trials and evaluated data from our clinical ICSI caseload, currently over 450 cases per year, to provide information in this area. In the following summaries, blastocyst data are reported per injected oocyte; clinical data are from 2013 and 2014. Clinically, when immature follicles were aspirated, the number of follicles aspirated per mare decreased significantly with mare age, from 16.2 at age 12–15 to 8.9 at age 24–25; however, maturation and blastocyst rates of recovered oocytes did not differ significantly. Immature oocytes shipped to the laboratory by referring veterinarians yielded a significantly higher blastocyst rate than that for immature oocytes aspirated at the laboratory (27 v. 21%, respectively). Shipped oocytes recovered from stimulated preovulatory follicles yielded a higher blastocyst rate per oocyte than did shipped immature oocytes (39 v. 27%, respectively), but provided fewer mature oocytes per aspiration (1.0 v. 4.5 for immature). From research data, administration of gentamicin and ampicillin to mares before immature oocyte aspiration did not affect blastocyst rate. Holding the aspirate for ~1.5 h at ambient temperature (26 to 33°C) was associated with a blastocyst rate of 32%; however, holding for 2 h at 32°C yielded only 16% blastocysts v. 23% for control. Blastocysts (18%) were obtained from oocytes recovered in the nonbreeding season (December and January). Holding oocytes at room temperature overnight before maturation did not affect blastocyst rate (25 to 34%), nor did inclusion of zinc in the maturation medium (18 to 31%). Diluting and refreezing semen to increase doses available for ICSI did not affect blastocyst rate (23 to 27%); blastocysts (13%) were also obtained after injection of nonmotile sperm. Significant differences in cleavage and blastocyst rates were identified among stallions. For one stallion, use of density gradient plus swim-up before ICSI increased cleavage (49 v. 18%) and blastocyst rates (11 v. 0%) compared to density gradient alone. Blastocyst production was not affected by the amount of glucose added to a human embryo culture medium (0 or 5 mM added glucose on Days 0–5, then 10 or 20 mM added glucose; 31 to 46% blastocysts). Replacement of 10% FBS in embryo culture medium with a mixture of FBS, human serum replacement, and equine follicular fluid lowered blastocyst rate (15 v. 37% for FBS alone). Clinically, embryos were vitrified or were shipped to embryo transfer centers for transfer. There was no significant difference in ongoing pregnancy rate for embryos from shipped immature v. preovulatory oocytes (54 and 69%). For immature oocytes, embryos developing to blastocyst on Day 10 or 11 had a lower ongoing pregnancy rate after transfer (40 and 0%) than did those developing on Days 7 to 9 (51 to 75%). This work was supported by the Link Equine Research Endowment Fund, Texas A&M University, and by the Clinical Equine ICSI Program, Texas A&M University.

Co-cultivation of Synechocystis salina and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata under varying phosphorus concentrations evidences an allelopathic competition scenario

This study suggests growth inhibition ofSynechocystis salinawhen co-cultured withPseudokirchneriella subcapitatathrough the production of an allelochemical – lactic acid.

220 EFFECT OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION DURING IN VITRO MATURATION ON EQUINE BLASTOCYST RATES AFTER INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION

Use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in horses has growing clinical and research importance; however, little is known of factors affecting efficacy of this system. Supplementation of zinc during in vitro maturation (IVM) has been shown to increase oocyte glutathione levels, decrease reactive oxygen species, and increase blastocyst rates in vitro in cattle and pigs, but has not been evaluated in the horse. In this study, we examined the effect of zinc supplementation during IVM on rates of maturation and blastocyst formation after ICSI. Oocytes were collected from follicles ≥5 mm in diameter in live mares. Blood serum and follicular fluid from 15- to 30-mm follicles were collected from 3 mares for zinc analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Oocytes were held overnight at room temperature (Choi et al. 2006 Theriogenology 66, 955–963), and then randomly assigned to IVM in the presence of 1 of 4 concentrations of added zinc (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 μg mL–1), added as ZnSO4·7H2O. The oocytes were cultured for IVM in M199 with Earle’s salts, 5 mU mL–1 FSH, and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 30 h. The oocytes were then denuded of cumulus and those with a polar body subjected to ICSI with frozen-thawed sperm. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in a commercial human embryo culture medium (LifeGlobal; http://www.lifeglobalgroup.com/), supplemented with 10% FBS, under 6% CO2, 5% O2, and 89% N2 at 38.2°C. On Day 5 (Day 0 = injection day), embryos were evaluated for presumptive cleavage and transferred to medium with 20 mM added glucose. Blastocyst formation was evaluated on Days 7 to 11. Data were analysed by Fisher’s exact test. The mean zinc concentrations in mare serum and follicular fluid were 0.50 and 0.44 μg mL–1, respectively. The mean zinc concentration of the FBS was 2.70 μg mL–1, and that of IVM medium containing 10% FBS were 0.28, 0.80, 1.23, and 1.68 μg mL–1 for the 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 μg mL–1 added-zinc treatments, respectively. The rates of oocyte maturation were not significantly different among treatments (43/61, 70%; 46/70, 66%; 45/71, 63%; and 49/70, 70%, respectively). Neither cleavage rates (81–92%) nor blastocyst rates (12/42, 29%; 9/43, 21%, 8/44, 18%, and 15/48, 31%, respectively) differed significantly among treatments. However, the proportion of blastocysts that developed on Day 7 out of total blastocysts was higher for the combined added-zinc treatments (0.5, 1, and 1.5 μg mL–1) than for the treatment with no added zinc (15/32, 47% v. 1/12, 8%, respectively; P < 0.05). These results indicate that supplementation of zinc to the IVM medium used did not influence equine oocyte maturation or blastocyst development rates but may have improved embryo quality, as reflected in earlier blastocyst development. The more subtle response seen, compared with that reported in other species, may be because the 10% FBS resulted in zinc concentrations in the basal medium (0.28 μg mL–1) only slightly lower than that in equine follicular fluid (0.44 μg mL–1). This work was supported by the Link Equine Research Endowment Fund, Texas A&M University, and by the Clinical Equine ICSI Program, Texas A&M University.

Antibiotic adjuvants from Buxus sempervirens to promote effective treatment of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

Plants have been long scrutinized in the quest for new antibiotics, but no strong antibiotic molecule was ever found.

43 MASS VITRIFICATION OF GERMINAL-VESICLE STAGE EQUINE OOCYTES

Oocyte cryopreservation has the potential to preserve female genetics. In addition, equine oocytes are not readily available in some areas, and vitrification could be used to accumulate oocytes at remote locations to provide material for research. To preserve large numbers of oocytes, a method for rapid vitrification of multiple oocytes is needed. First, we determined whether immature equine oocytes could be held overnight before vitrification, and we tested the use of a mesh+capillary-action media-removal vitrification platform. Oocytes were collected via ultrasound-guided transvaginal follicle aspiration and randomly allotted to either immediate vitrification or overnight holding (24 to 27 h in 40% M199-Earle’s salts, 40% M199-Hanks’ salts, 20% fetal bovine serum, and 0.3 mM pyruvate) then vitrification. Oocytes were vitrified using different times (1 or 4 min) in vitrification solution and first warming solution: 1v1w, 1v4w, 4v1w, and 4v4w. The base solution was MH (80% M199-Hanks’ salts and 20% fetal bovine serum). Cryoprotectant concentration (vol/vol) was increased in 3 steps until reaching 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 7.5% ethylene glycol. The oocytes were then held in vitrification solution (MH with 15% dimethyl sulfoxide, 15% ethylene glycol, and 0.5 M sucrose) for either 1 or 4 min, according to treatment, and 3 to 10 oocytes were transferred to a 75-μm sterile stainless steel mesh. The mesh was placed on sterile paper to absorb excess medium, then plunged in LN. The oocytes were warmed in MH solution with 1.25 M sucrose for either 1 or 4 min, then placed in 0.62 M and 0.31 M sucrose solutions for 5 min each and undetermined time in MH. After warming, oocytes were cultured for maturation (in vitro maturation) in M199-Earle’s salts, 5 mU mL–1 FSH, and 10% fetal bovine serum. After 30 to 36 h, the oocytes were denuded and stained with Hoechst 33258. Data were analysed by Fisher’s exact test. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in rates of meiotic resumption among timing treatments (35, 24, 26, and 39% for 1v1w, 1v4w, 4v1w, and 4v4w, respectively), nor between immediately vitrified (17/55, 31%) and overnight held-vitrified groups (18/56, 32%). In the second experiment, all oocytes were held overnight. They were vitrified and warmed using only the 1v1w and 4v4w schedules, then subjected to in vitro maturation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and embryo culture. The MII rate of the control group (27/37, 73%) was higher (P < 0.05) than that for 1v1w (12/33, 36%) or 4v4w treatments (10/35, 29%). The cleavage rate for control (25/27, 93%) was higher than that for 1v1w (5/9, 56%) but not than that for 4v4w (6/9, 67%). Blastocyst rates were 19% (5/27), 11% (1/9), and 0% (0/9) for control, 1v1w, and 4v4w, respectively (P > 0.05). These results indicate that blastocysts may be produced from equine immature oocytes vitrified en masse; however, both the maturation and blastocyst production rates were relatively low. Additional studies are required to improve the efficiency of this technique. This work was supported by the Clinical Equine ICSI Program, Texas A&M University.

Quantitative Assessment of Neovascularization after Indirect Bypass Surgery: Color-Coded Digital Subtraction Angiography in Pediatric Moyamoya Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

For the postoperative follow-up in pediatric patients with Moyamoya disease, it is essential to evaluate the degree of neovascularization status. Our aim was to quantitatively assess the neovascularization status after bypass surgery in pediatric Moyamoya disease by using color-coded digital subtraction angiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Time-attenuation intensity curves were generated at ROIs corresponding to surgical flap sites from color-coded DSA images of the common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, and external carotid artery angiograms obtained pre- and postoperatively in 32 children with Moyamoya disease. Time-to-peak and area under the curve values were obtained. Postoperative changes in adjusted time-to-peak (ΔTTP) and ratios of adjusted area under the curve changes (ΔAUC ratio) of common carotid artery, ICA, and external carotid artery angiograms were compared across clinical and angiographic outcome groups. To analyze diagnostic performance, we categorized clinical outcomes into favorable and unfavorable groups.

RESULTS

The ΔTTP at the common carotid artery increased among clinical and angiographic outcomes, in that order, with significant differences (P = .003 and .005, respectively). The ΔAUC ratio at the common carotid artery and external carotid artery also increased, in that order, among clinical and angiographic outcomes with a significant difference (all, P = .000). The ΔAUC ratio of ICA showed no significant difference among clinical and angiographic outcomes (P = .418 and .424, respectively). The ΔTTP for the common carotid artery of >1.27 seconds and the ΔAUC ratio of >33.5% for the common carotid artery and 504% for the external carotid artery are revealed as optimal cutoff values between favorable and unfavorable groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative changes in quantitative values obtained with color-coded DSA software showed a significant correlation with outcome scores and can be used as objective parameters for predicting the outcome in pediatric Moyamoya disease, with an additional cutoff value calculated through the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Gluconacetobacter sp. gel_SEA623-2, bacterial cellulose producing bacterium isolated from citrus fruit juice

Cellulose producing bacterial strain was isolated from citrus fruit juice fungus. The isolated strain was identified as Gluconacetobacter sp. gel_SEA623-2 based on several morphological characteristics, biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA conducted. Culture conditions for bacterial cellulose production by SEA623-2 were screened in static trays. Conditions were extensively optimized by varying the kind of fruit juice, pH, sugar concentration, and temperature for maximum cellulose production. SEA623-2 has a high productive capacity in citrus processing medium, but not in other fruits. The optimal combination of the media constituents for bacterial cellulose production is as follows: 10% citrus juice, 10% sucrose, 1% acetic acid, and 1% ethanol at 30 °C, pH 3.5. Bacterial cellulose produced by SEA623-2 has soft physical properties, high tensile strength, and high water retention value. The cellulose produced by the selected bacteria is suitable as a cosmetic and medical material.

Efficiency Enhancement of Organic Light-Emitting Devices Fabricated Using a 1,4,5,8,9,11-Hexaazatriphenylene Hexacarbonitrile Silver Electrode

A 1,4,5,8,9,11-hexaazatriphenylene hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN)/Ag/HAT-CN transparent electrode for organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) was investigated. The current density of OLEDs was enhanced with an increase in the Ag layer thickness of a HAT-CN/Ag/HAT-CN anode. While the luminance of the OLEDs with a HAT-CN/Ag/HAT-CN anode slightly decreased with increasing thickness of the upper HAT-CN layer, the current efficiency of the OLEDs with thicknesses for the Ag layer of 20 nm and for the upper HAT-CN layer of 100 nm was almost two times higher than that of OLEDs with an ITO anode. Electroluminescence spectra of the OLEDs with a HAT-CN/Ag/HAT-CN anode were shifted due to the micro-cavity effect in the stacked anode, which was confirmed by the transmittance spectra.

Comparison of Strain in GaN-Based Blue Light-Emitting Diode Grown on Silicon(111) and Sapphire Substrates

We compare the strain states and device performances of GaN-based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on Si(111) and sapphire substrates. The strain characteristics are investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. These analyses reveal that GaN layer grown on Si has a residual tensile strain in contrast to a compressive strain for GaN on sapphire, and quantum wells (QWs) on GaN/Si experience reduced lattice mismatch than those of GaN/sapphire. When external quantum efficiencies of LED on sapphire and Si substrates are compared, the LED on Si shows better efficiency droop characteristics and this is attributed to a decrease in piezo-electric field strength in InGaN/GaN layers owing to reduced lattice mismatch.

Accuracy of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in equine in vivo-recovered and in vitro-produced blastocysts

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis has great potential in the horse, but information on evaluation of equine embryo biopsy samples is limited. Blastocysts were biopsied using a Piezo drill and methods for whole-genome amplification (WGA) investigated. Results for 33 genetic loci were then compared between biopsy samples from in vitro-produced (IVP) and in vivo-recovered (VIV) blastocysts. Under the experimental conditions described, WGA using the Qiagen Repli-g Midi kit was more accurate than that using the Illustra Genomiphi V2 kit (98.2% vs 25.8%, respectively). Using WGA with the Qiagen kit, three biopsy samples were evaluated from each of eight IVP and 19 VIV blastocysts, some produced using semen from stallions carrying the genetic mutations associated with the diseases hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) or polysaccharide storage myopathy 1 (PSSM1). Three of 81 biopsy samples (3.7%) returned 95% overall accuracy in IVP and VIV embryos, and this technique is suitable for use in a clinical setting.

Extending pharmacological dose-response curves for salsalate with natural deep eutectic solvents

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are recently developed green solvents that are attractive for their great solubilising power and intrinsic lack of toxicity.

38 EFFECT OF OOCYTE MATURATION DURATION ON BLASTOCYST RATES AFTER EQUINE SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

In equine cloning, the scarcity of equine oocytes places emphasis on development of the most efficient nuclear transfer (NT) methods possible. In other species, using oocytes matured for the shortest duration needed to reach metaphase II has increased NT efficiency. In the present study, we examined the effect of duration of oocyte maturation at the time of enucleation on equine cloned blastocyst production. Oocytes were collected from live mares by transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of all visible follicles ≥5 mm in diameter. The oocytes were held overnight (16–22 h) at room temperature, matured in vitro, and reconstructed with donor cells as described in our previous study (Choi et al. 2013 Theriogenology 79, 791–796). In Experiment 1, oocytes were divided into 2 groups and matured for 20 or 24 h. After enucleation, oocytes were reconstructed by direct injection of donor cells. Reconstructed oocytes were held for 5 h and then activated by treatment with 5 μM ionomycin for 4 min, then injection with sperm extract, followed by incubation in 2 mM 6-DMAP for 4 h. The activated reconstructed oocytes were cultured in global human embryo culture medium under 5% CO2, 6% O2, and 89% N2 at 38.2°C for 7 to 11 days (20 mM glucose was added at Day 5) and blastocyst rate was recorded. Because a low maturation rate was found at 20 h in Experiment 1, in Experiment 2 oocytes were denuded at 20 h and those that were mature were enucleated and used for NT; those that had not cast out a polar body at 20 h were cultured for an additional 3 h (20 + 3h) and then evaluated for polar body formation and used for NT, which was conducted as in Experiment 1. Data were analysed by Fisher's exact test. In Experiment 1, 203 oocytes were collected in 46 aspiration sessions. The rate of oocyte maturation to metaphase II was significantly lower for oocytes cultured for 20 h (35/116, 30%), than for those cultured for 24 h (47/80, 59%). However, the rate of blastocyst development was significantly higher for oocytes cultured for 20 h (11/27, 41%) than for 24 h (2/38, 5%). In Experiment 2, 89 oocytes were collected in 18 aspiration sessions. After 20 h of maturation culture, 22 oocytes were mature (25%). After an additional 3 h of culture, 21 additional oocytes had matured. There were no significant differences between the two treatments (20 and 20 + 3h) in reconstruction rates (77%, 17/22, and 90%, 19/21, respectively) or blastocyst rates (24%, 4/17, and 32%, 6/19, respectively). These results indicate that duration of in vitro maturation, or the duration of presence of cumulus cells, influences blastocyst development after somatic cell NT in the horse. This appears to be due to a benefit of using oocytes immediately after they reach metaphase II; if this is ensured as in Experiment 2, the duration of maturation itself had no effect.This work was supported by the American Quarter Horse Foundation, the Link Equine Research Endowment Fund, Texas A&M University, and by Ms. Kit Knotts.

Correlation among bioimpedance analysis, sonographic and circumferential measurement in assessment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema

New approaches for assessment of lymphedema using ultrasonography (US) have been introduced recently and are reported to be reliable and simple. Ultrasonography provides detailed information about physical properties of the tissue in addition to volume and size. There have been only limited studies comparing bioimpedance analysis (BIA), US, and circumferential measurement (CM), which is considered a standard measurement. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between US, BIA, and CM. Twenty-eight patients with lymphedema after breast cancer surgery underwent BIA, US, and CM. Impedance, which reflects the amount of extracellular fluid, was measured with 1 kHz frequency in affected and unaffected arms. Circumferences were measured at 10cm proximal and distal to the elbow and a truncated cone method used to calculate estimated volumes for upper arm and forearm. We found that interlimb forearm subcutis thickness differences measured by US were highly correlated with CM measurements and that interlimb upper arm subcutis thickness differences measured by US were moderately correlated with CM measurements and BIA ratios. However, the interlimb ratio of compressibility measured by US showed no or only weak correlation with impedance measurements and circumferential measurements. Our results also show that compressibility measured by US could not be predicted from BIA or CM measurements despite a high degree of concordance among subcutis thickness measured by US, CM, and BIA.

Association between Serum Antibodies to Oral Microorganisms and Hyperglycemia in Adults

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to evaluate the relationship between serum antibody titers against 19 selected oral microorganisms and measures of hyperglycemia in a large, nationally representative data set. The study population consisted of 7,848 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994) who were at least 40 yrs old, with complete serum IgG antibody data against 19 oral microorganisms. The 19 antibody titers were grouped into 4 categories via cluster analysis--orange-red, yellow-orange, orange-blue, and red-green--named to reflect predominant antibody titers against microorganisms in Socransky's classification scheme for oral microbes. Linear regression models weighted for complex survey design were used in which fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and HbA1c were outcomes and antibody cluster scores were exposures, adjusting for potential confounders. Higher orange-red cluster scores were associated with increased hyperglycemia, while higher orange-blue cluster scores were related with decreased hyperglycemia. A 1-unit-higher orange-red cluster score was associated with 0.46 mg/dL higher fasting blood glucose (p = .0038), and a 1-unit-higher orange-blue cluster score was associated with 0.34% lower HbA1c (p = .0257). Groups of antibody titers against periodontal microorganisms were associated with hyperglycemia independent of known risk factors.