Phenotypic Differentiation of Two Morphologically Similar Aflatoxin-Producing Fungi from West Africa

Aflatoxins (AF) are hepatocarcinogenic metabolites produced by several Aspergillus species. Crop infection by these species results in aflatoxin contamination of cereals, nuts, and spices. Etiology of aflatoxin contamination is complicated by mixed infections of multiple species with similar morphology and aflatoxin profiles. The current study investigates variation in aflatoxin production between two morphologically similar species that co-exist in West Africa, A. aflatoxiformans and A. minisclerotigenes. Consistent distinctions in aflatoxin production during liquid fermentation were discovered between these species. The two species produced similar concentrations of AFB₁ in defined media with either urea or ammonium as the sole nitrogen source. However, production of both AFB₁ and AFG₁ were inhibited (p < 0.001) for A. aflatoxiformans in a yeast extract medium with sucrose. Although production of AFG₁ by both species was similar in urea, A. minisclerotigenes produced greater concentrations of AFG₁ in ammonium (p = 0.039). Based on these differences, a reliable and convenient assay for differentiating the two species was designed. This assay will be useful for identifying specific etiologic agents of aflatoxin contamination episodes in West Africa and other regions where the two species are sympatric, especially when phylogenetic analyses based on multiple gene segments are not practical.

Minimally invasive techniques for transthoracic oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer: systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Oesophagectomy is a demanding operation that can be performed by different approaches including open surgery or a combination of minimal access techniques. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of open, minimally invasive and robotic oesophagectomy techniques for oesophageal cancer.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted for studies reporting open oesophagectomy, laparoscopically assisted oesophagectomy (LAO), thoracoscopically assisted oesophagectomy (TAO), totally minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIO) or robotic MIO (RAMIO) for oesophagectomy. A network meta-analysis of intraoperative (operating time, blood loss), postoperative (overall complications, anastomotic leaks, chyle leak, duration of hospital stay) and oncological (R0 resection, lymphadenectomy) outcomes, and survival was performed.

RESULTS

Ninety-eight studies involving 32 315 patients were included in the network meta-analysis (open 17 824, 55·2 per cent; LAO 1576, 4·9 per cent; TAO 2421 7·5 per cent; MIO 9558, 29·6 per cent; RAMIO 917, 2·8 per cent). Compared with open oesophagectomy, both MIO and RAMIO were associated with less blood loss, significantly lower rates of pulmonary complications, shorter duration of stay and higher lymph node yield. There were no significant differences between surgical techniques in surgical-site infections, chyle leak, and 30- and 90-day mortality. MIO and RAMIO had better 1- and 5-year survival rates respectively compared with open surgery.

CONCLUSION

Minimally invasive and robotic techniques for oesophagectomy are associated with reduced perioperative morbidity and duration of hospital stay, with no compromise of oncological outcomes but no improvement in perioperative mortality.

Awake tracheostomy in a child with respiratory distress due to retropharyngeal abscess

Awake tracheostomy in a child with respiratory distress is an emergency life-saving procedure when risk of airway loss after induction of general anaesthesia is greater due to difficult anatomy. A 10-year-old boy presented three days after removal of a foreign body in the throat under general anaesthesia. Over the subsequent days, the patient had a progressively increasing visible swelling in the neck, stridor and respiratory distress. An urgent X-ray and computed tomography scan of the neck revealed a retropharyngeal abscess compressing the trachea. Due to anticipated difficulty in airway management under general anaesthesia, we decided to perform an awake tracheostomy. The child and the parents were counselled regarding steps of awake tracheostomy, as well as the benefits and possible risks associated with it. Topicalisation was achieved by administering glycopyrrolate, nebulisation with lidocaine 4%, and the skin was prepared with lidocaine 2% with 1:200,000 adrenaline. After the awake tracheostomy was successfully performed, general anaesthesia was induced and the retropharyngeal abscess was drained. Effective communication and building rapport is essential for safe awake tracheostomy in a child with respiratory distress when impending airway loss may occur at any moment.

Neuropathological and biochemical investigation of Hereditary Ferritinopathy cases with ferritin light chain mutation: Prominent protein aggregation in the absence of major mitochondrial or oxidative stress

AIMS

Neuroferritinopathy (NF) or hereditary ferritinopathy (HF) is an autosomal dominant movement disorder due to mutation in the light chain of the iron storage protein ferritin (FTL). HF is the only late-onset neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation disorder and study of HF offers a unique opportunity to understand the role of iron in more common neurodegenerative syndromes.

METHODS

We carried out pathological and biochemical studies of six individuals with the same pathogenic FTL mutation.

RESULTS

CNS pathological changes were most prominent in the basal ganglia and cerebellar dentate, echoing the normal pattern of brain iron accumulation. Accumulation of ferritin and iron was conspicuous in cells with a phenotype suggesting oligodendrocytes, with accompanying neuronal pathology and neuronal loss. Neurons still survived, however, despite extensive adjacent glial iron deposition, suggesting neuronal loss is a downstream event. Typical age-related neurodegenerative pathology was not normally present. Uniquely, the extensive aggregates of ubiquitinated ferritin identified indicate that abnormal FTL can aggregate, reflecting the intrinsic ability of FTL to self-assemble. Ferritin aggregates were seen in neuronal and glial nuclei showing parallels with Huntington's disease. There was neither evidence of oxidative stress activation nor any significant mitochondrial pathology in the affected basal ganglia.

CONCLUSIONS

HF shows hallmarks of a protein aggregation disorder, in addition to iron accumulation. Degeneration in HF is not accompanied by age-related neurodegenerative pathology and the lack of evidence of oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage suggests that these are not key mediators of neurodegeneration in HF, casting light on other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by iron deposition.

Molecular Analysis of S-morphology Aflatoxin Producers From the United States Reveals Previously Unknown Diversity and Two New Taxa

Aflatoxins are highly toxic carcinogens that detrimentally influence profitability of agriculture and the health of humans and domestic animals. Several phylogenetically distinct fungi within Aspergillus section Flavi have S-morphology (average sclerotial size < 400 μm), and consistently produce high concentrations of aflatoxins in crops. S-morphology fungi have been implicated as important etiologic agents of aflatoxin contamination in the United States (US), but little is known about the diversity of these fungi. The current study characterized S-morphology fungi (n = 494) collected between 2002 and 2017, from soil and maize samples, in US regions where aflatoxin contamination is a perennial problem. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the calmodulin (1.9 kb) and nitrate reductase (2.1 kb) genes resolved S-morphology isolates from the US into four distinct clades: (1) Aspergillus flavus S-morphotype (89.7%); (2) Aspergillus agricola sp. nov. (2.4%); (3) Aspergillus texensis (2.2%); and (4) Aspergillus toxicus sp. nov. (5.7%). All four S-morphology species produced high concentrations of aflatoxins in maize at 25, 30, and 35°C, but only the A. flavus S-morphotype produced unacceptable aflatoxin concentrations at 40°C. Genetic typing of A. flavus S isolates using 17 simple sequence repeat markers revealed high genetic diversity, with 202 haplotypes from 443 isolates. Knowledge of the occurrence of distinct species and haplotypes of S-morphology fungi that are highly aflatoxigenic under a range of environmental conditions may provide insights into the etiology, epidemiology, and management of aflatoxin contamination in North America.

AB0157 IGG FROM PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON COAGULATION FACTORS IN HUMAN CEREBRAL MICROVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN-VITRO

Background:

Endothelial cells from the microvasculature (hBMEC) of the brain show significant morphological and functional differences compared to EC from other anatomical areas. They are characterized by tight junctions, are not fenestrated and show less active transport mechanisms. On the other hand, the mitochondrial density is relatively high in hBMEC due to the high cerebral glucose metabolism.

It could be already observed that interferon-α from SLE-sera induces the expression of MHC class I molecules on human dermal microendothelial cell line, but it is not known whether this also occurs on hBMEC. hBMECs can synthesize pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as IL-1β, but in lower concentrations than human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or systemic sclerosis (SSc) show a wide spectrum of central nervous symptoms. Both, SLE and SSc, are characterised by different autoantibodies and endothelial vascular damage, especially in microvessels. 10-40% of patients with SLE suffer from lupus vasculopathy. Vascular dysfunction is one of the earliest pathological changes in SSc. Anti-endothelial autoantibodies (AECA) appear in SLE as well as in SSc and other connective tissue diseases. Research within the last years revealed that AECA play a critical role within the vascular pathogenesis of SLE and SSc. So far there is no evidence that AECA bind to hBMEC and it is not clear whether they have an effect on this special endothelial class.

Objectives:

In this project, we investigated if autoantibodies against hBMEC are detectable in SLE and SSc patients and if they have an influence on the activation of the endothelium by inducing adhesion molecules and on haemostasis by inducing factors of the clotting cascade.

Methods:

HiTrap Protein G HP antibody purification columns were used to purify IgG antibodies. Flow cytometry was used for analysis of autoantibodies against human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3). 26 sera of patients with SLE and 29 sera of patients with SSc were tested for presence of autoantibodies against hCMEC/D3. To analyse in vitro effects on hCMEC/D3, we measured changes in the expression of the following surface proteins: ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MHC class I and II, tissue factor, von-Willebrand-Factor, E-Selectin, P-Selectin, Thrombomodulin, CD73 and t-PA, each before and after three- and 24-hours incubation with IgG-fractions. IgG fractions of 12 SLE patients, 13 SSc patients and 13 healthy control persons (HC) were tested.

Results:

Autoantibodies against hCMEC/D3 were found in 21 of 26 patients with SLE (81%) and in 19 of 29 patients with SSc (66%) (p > 0.05) but not in healthy donors. After three hours incubation of hCMEC/D3 IgG-fractions, an upregulation of tissue factor by SSc-IgG (6.7% ± 5.2%) compared to HC-IgG (1.1% ± 2.8%, p < 0.01) and to SLE-IgG (1.6% ± 3.9%, p < 0.05), was detectable.

There was no significant correlation between changes in surface protein expression and detection of ANA or of anti-hCMEC/D3 antibodies (p > 0.05).

No change in expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MHC class I and II, von-Willebrand-Factor, E-Selectin, P-Selectin, Thrombomodulin, CD73 and t-PA could be detected after incubation with IgG-fractions.

Conclusion:

Both, patients with SLE and patients with SSc showed autoantibodies against hBMEC. IgG fractions of patients with SSc, but not with SLE, induced an upregulation of tissue factor on the cell surface of hCMEC/D3. This could be an indicator for a direct pathogenic effect of AECA on hBMEC and might have an influence on haemostasis by activating the clotting cascade. Inhibition of these antibodies could reduce cerebral involvement of SSc.

References:

[1]Weksler BB, Subileau EA, Perriere N, et al. Blood-brain barrier-specific properties of a human adult brain endothelial cell line. Faseb J 2005;19:1872-1874.

Disclosure of Interests:

Rebecca Hasseli: None declared, Magdalena Maria Fürst: None declared, Pratibha Singh: None declared, Ulf Müller-Ladner Speakers bureau: Biogen, Manfred Kaps: None declared, Franz Blaes: None declared, Tibo Gerriets: None declared, Marlene Tschernatsch: None declared

0277 Sleep Restriction does not Alter the Transcription of Adipose Tissue Insulin-Signaling Regulators

Introduction

Voluntary sleep curtailment decreases insulin sensitivity. However, molecular mechanisms underlying impaired insulin signaling are not completely understood. To gain molecular insights, we examined the transcription of known cellular insulin-signaling regulators in adipose tissue obtained from subjects undergoing experimental sleep restriction.

Methods

Nineteen healthy subjects (males: 11; age: 19 - 36 years; BMI: 24.5 ± 3.6 kg/m2) underwent a normal (9 hours/night) and a restricted sleep (4 hours/night) sequence in a random order. Each inpatient stay included a screen visit followed by 4 days of acclimation and 9 days of experimental phase consisting of a controlled sleep opportunity. Eucaloric diet was provided to ensure weight maintenance. Abdominal fat sample was obtained at the screen and end of the experimental phase. mRNA was quantified by RT-PCR. Fasting morning blood draws were obtained at the end of acclimation and experimental phases. Mixed models were used for analysis.

Results

mRNA expression did not differ in normal and restricted sleep condition for SOCS3 [changes in normal Vs. restricted sleep, 0.02 (0.11, -0.01) Vs. 0.01 (0.12, -0.07), p=0.33], PTEN [-0.22 (0.18, -0.39) Vs. -0.10 (0.21, -0.20), p=0.22], PTB1B [-0.003 (0.04, -0.07) Vs. -0.01 (0.06, -0.06), p=0.74] and Cav-1 [-2.45 (0.78, -8.39) Vs. -6.31 (1.68, -8.29), p=0.34]. Further, transcription of insulin-receptor also did not change [0.01 (0.07, -0.06) Vs. -0.03 (0.09, -0.07), p=0.92]. However, within group analysis show significant decreases in Cav-1 mRNA only during sleep restriction (normal: p=0.09; restricted: p=0.003). Importantly, restricting sleep duration was associated with lowering of insulin (0.6 ± 1.9 Vs. -1.6 ± 1.7 uIU/ml; p=0.003), no change in glucose (-1.5 ± 3.8 Vs. -3.7 ± 4.12 mg/dl, p=0.06) and improvement in HOMA-IR index (0.12 ± 0.44 Vs -0.42 ± 0.43, p=0.002).

Conclusion

Chronic sleep restriction does not alter the transcription of cell-signaling regulators in abdominal adipose tissue. Moreover, restricting sleep duration without increasing calorie intake did not seem to decrease insulin sensitivity as determined by HOMA-IR.

Support

NIH grants HL114676, Mayo Clinic CCaTS UL1 TR002377; AHA grant 13POST16420009 to NC

0862 Adequate Sleep Duration Enhances Cardiovascular Benefits Of A Physical Activity Intervention In Older African Americans

Introduction

African Americans are at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease and inadequate sleep than are corresponding whites. Age-associated declines in sleep duration, cardiovascular health, and physical activity highlight the need to understand the relationship among these variables in this population. While physical activity is thought to be beneficial for promoting sleep quality, it remains unknown how habitual short sleep during a physical activity intervention influences the intervention response in this population.

Methods

Sedentary older African Americans (n=27; 65-85 years old; 74% female) participating in the intervention arm of a 12-week randomized controlled physical activity trial (NCT03474302) were categorized as short (n= 15) or adequate (n=12) sleepers, defined as sleeping &lt;6 hours/night or &gt;6 hours/night on average during the intervention. Participants wore validated activity monitors at baseline and 12 weeks, and commercially available sleep monitors were worn daily. Differences in cardiovascular outcomes at baseline and 12 weeks were assessed between sleep categories using sex-adjusted linear mixed models.

Results

The intervention increased accelerometer derived steps (p=0.04) with no between group differences (p=0.78). Moderate to vigorous activity (MVA) duration increased (p&lt;0.001), but change was greater in adequate sleepers (9 minutes; p&lt;0.05). Body weight did not significantly change (-0.71 kg; p=0.11) and changes were similar between groups (p=0.55). Total (p=0.046) and LDL cholesterol (p=0.04) decreased over time. Adequate sleepers experienced improvements in systolic blood pressure (-10 ± 4.5 mmHg; p=0.03), total cholesterol (-30 ± 11 mg/dL; p=0.01), and LDL cholesterol (-23 ± 9 mg/dL; p=0.01) from baseline while short sleepers did not (all p&gt;0.05). Significant differences or trends between adequate and poor sleepers were observed (-10.5 mmHg; p=0.096; -30 mg/dL p=0.044; -21 mg/dL; p=0.095, respectively).

Conclusion

Adequate sleep during a physical activity intervention may be important to elicit cardiovascular benefits. Thus, research evaluating sleep extension complementary to increased physical activity is warranted in short sleepers.

Support

BrightFocus (A20175472); National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (U54-GM104940)

Anastomotic techniques for oesophagectomy for malignancy: systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background

Current evidence on the benefits of different anastomotic techniques (hand‐sewn (HS), circular stapled (CS), triangulating stapled (TS) or linear stapled/semimechanical (LSSM) techniques) after oesophagectomy is conflicting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence for the techniques for oesophagogastric anastomosis and their impact on perioperative outcomes.

Methods

This was a systematic review and network meta‐analysis. PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically for randomized and non‐randomized studies reporting techniques for the oesophagogastric anastomosis. Network meta‐analysis of postoperative anastomotic leaks and strictures was performed.

Results

Of 4192 articles screened, 15 randomized and 22 non‐randomized studies comprising 8618 patients were included. LSSM (odds ratio (OR) 0·50, 95 per cent c.i. 0·33 to 0·74; P = 0·001) and CS (OR 0·68, 0·48 to 0·95; P = 0·027) anastomoses were associated with lower anastomotic leak rates than HS anastomoses. LSSM anastomoses were associated with lower stricture rates than HS anastomoses (OR 0·32, 0·19 to 0·54; P < 0·001).

Conclusion

LSSM anastomoses after oesophagectomy are superior with regard to anastomotic leak and stricture rates.

Dysregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway mediated cell cycle disruption in sporadic parathyroid tumors

OBJECTIVES

The study was designed to evaluate expression profiling of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway genes in sporadic parathyroid adenoma.

METHODS

Expression of MAPK signalling pathway genes including activated transcription factors and cell cycle regulatory genes was analysed by real-time PCR- based array in parathyroid adenoma (N = 20) and normal parathyroid tissue (N = 4).

RESULTS

MAPK signalling pathway as studied by PCR array revealed that a total of 22 genes were differentially expressed (≥ twofold change, p ≤ 0.05) in parathyroid adenoma. Up-regulated genes were ARAF, MAPK12, CREBBP, MYC, HSPB1, HRAS, CDK4, CCND1, and E2F1, and down-regulated genes were MAP4K1, DLK1, MAP3K4, MAPK10, MAPK8, ATF2, SMAD4, MEF2C, LAMTOR3, FOS, CDKN2A CDKN2B, and RB1. The present study revealed that ERK1/2 signalling pathway with up-regulation of HRAS, ARAF, and MEK1 genes and up-regulation of positive regulators of cell cycle (CCND1, CDK4, and E2F1) and down-regulation negative regulators of cell cycle (CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and RB1) made highly dysregulated MAPK signalling pathway in parathyroid adenoma. Expression of CDK4 was positively associated with plasma PTH level (r = 0.60, p = 0.04) and tumor weight (r = 0.80, p = 0.02) of the adenoma patients, respectively. Expression of CDKN2A was correlated negatively with PTH level (r = - 0.52, p = 0.04) of the adenoma patients.

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed that ERK pathway and associated cell cycle regulator genes are dysregulated in sporadic parathyroid adenoma.

Impact of bariatric surgery on cardiovascular outcomes and mortality: a population-based cohort study

Background

Cohort studies have shown that bariatric surgery may reduce the incidence of and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), but studies using real-world data are limited. This study examined the impact of bariatric surgery on incident CVD, hypertension and atrial fibrillation, and all-cause mortality.

Methods

A retrospective, matched, controlled cohort study of The Health Improvement Network primary care database (from 1 January 1990 to 31 January 2018) was performed (approximately 6 per cent of the UK population). Adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or above who did not have gastric cancer were included as the exposed group. Each exposed patient, who had undergone bariatric surgery, was matched for age, sex, BMI and presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with two controls who had not had bariatric surgery.

Results

A total of 5170 exposed and 9995 control participants were included; their mean(s.d.) age was 45·3(10·5) years and 21·5 per cent (3265 of 15 165 participants) had T2DM. Median follow-up was 3·9 (i.q.r. 1·8– 6·4) years. Mean(s.d.) percentage weight loss was 20·0(13·2) and 0·8(9·5) per cent in exposed and control groups respectively. Overall, bariatric surgery was not associated with a significantly lower CVD risk (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0·80; 95 per cent c.i. 0·62 to 1·02; P = 0·074). Only in the gastric bypass group was a significant impact on CVD observed (HR 0·53, 0·34 to 0·81; P = 0·003). Bariatric surgery was associated with significant reduction in all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 0·70, 0·55 to 0·89; P = 0·004), hypertension (adjusted HR 0·41, 0·34 to 0·50; P &lt; 0·001) and heart failure (adjusted HR 0·57, 0·34 to 0·96; P = 0·033). Outcomes were similar in patients with and those without T2DM (exposed versus controls), except for incident atrial fibrillation, which was reduced in the T2DM group.

Conclusion

Bariatric surgery is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension, heart failure and mortality, compared with routine care. Gastric bypass was associated with reduced risk of CVD compared to routine care.

Study protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study on esophagogastric anastomoses and anastomotic leak (the Oesophago-Gastric Anastomosis Audit/OGAA)

Esophagectomy is a mainstay in curative treatment for esophageal cancer; however, the reported techniques and outcomes can vary greatly. Thirty-day mortality of patients with an intact anastomosis is 2-3% as compared to 17-35% in patients who have an anastomotic leak. The subsequent management of leaks postesophagectomy has great global variability with little consensus on a gold standard of practice. The aim of this multicentre prospective audit is to analyze current techniques of esophagogastric anastomosis to determine the effect on the anastomotic leak rate. Leak rates and leak management will be assessed to determine their impact on patient outcomes. A 12-month international multicentre prospective audit started in April 2018 and is coordinated by a team from the West Midlands Research Collaborative. This will include patients undergoing esophagectomy over 9 months and encompassing a 90-day follow-up period. A pilot data collection period occurred at four UK centers in 2017 to trial the data collection form. The audit standards will include anastomotic leak and the conduit necrosis rate should be less than 13% and major postoperative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo Grade III or more) should be less than 35%. The 30-day mortality rate should be less than 5% and the 90-day mortality rate should be less than 8%. This will be a trainee-led international audit of esophagectomy practice. Key support will be given by consultant colleagues and anesthetists. Individualized unit data will be distributed to the respective contributing sites. An overall anonymized report will be made available to contributing units. Results of the audit will be published in peer-reviewed journals with all collaborators fully acknowledged. The key information and results from the audit will be disseminated at relevant scientific meetings.

Aligning Estimators With Estimands in Clinical Trials: Putting the ICH E9(R1) Guidelines Into Practice

The draft ICH E9(R1) addendum stipulates that an estimator should align with its associated estimand and yield an estimate that facilitates reliable interpretations. The addendum further stipulates that assumptions should be justifiable and plausible, and that the extent of assumptions is an important consideration for whether an estimate will be robust because assumptions are often unverifiable. The draft addendum specifies 5 strategies for dealing with intercurrent events. The intent of this paper is to provide conceptual considerations and technical details for various estimators that align with these strategies. We include focus on how the nature and extent of assumptions influences the potential robustness of the various estimators. The content reflects the knowledge, experience, and opinions of the Drug Information Association's Scientific Working Group on Missing Data. This group includes experienced statisticians from across industry and academia, primarily in the US and European Union.

Estimation of Fetal Weight: An Ultrasonography Study in Indian Population

To create a reference chart for estimated fetal weight (EFW) in normal pregnancy for use in Indian population and compare it with reference chart from other population. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 300 normal singleton pregnancies coming for routine antenatal ultrasonography examination and was carried out at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur from September 2017 to April 2019. Ultrasonographic measurements included fetal biparietal diameter (cm), head circumference (cm), abdominal circumference (cm) and femur length (cm). Estimated fetal weight was calculated by using Hadlock algorithm which is already fed into ultrasonography machine. Reference chart with mean EFW for corresponding Gestational age (GA) in weeks was developed. Also Reference centiles (10th, 50th, 90th and 95th) were derived from this model. There was no statistically significant difference in age distribution of pregnant women (p=0.87). Statistically significant linear relationship found between EFW and advancing gestational age (p=0.0004). Maximum gain in EFW (34.05%) was observed after second trimester (28 week). Maximum and minimum fetal weight at 38 weeks of GA in our study found to be 3389 grams and 2567 grams respectively, which has significant difference. This could be due to huge difference in socio-economic and nutritional status among Indian population which might have impacted on maternal and fetal health. Estimated fetal weight was found to be at lower range in Indian population compared to reference chart developed into western population. Fetal weight to their corresponding GA is an important factor in determining growth and development in fetus. In normally developing fetus the EFW has linear correlation with advancing GA. A separate reference chart is required for every different population because ethnicity, nutrition and environmental factor can have impact on normal EFW values. This would help to avoid misdiagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation or macrosomia in fetuses and hence unnecessary medical interventions can be prevented during prenatal and perinatal period.

The effect of the sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitor dapagliflozin on glomerular filtration rate in healthy cats

Sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce glomerular hyperfiltration in diabetic people with early diabetic nephropathy. The objective of this report was to assess changes in glomerular filtration rate in healthy cats after treatment with a SGLT2i. Eight healthy research adult castrated male cats were used in a randomized, controlled, cross-over study design. We induced isolated renal tubular glucosuria by dosing cats with the SGLT2i dapagliflozin. The cats received by mouth 10 mg dapagliflozin or control every 24 h in each of the 4, 5-d trial periods that were separated by a 7-d washout period. We assessed glomerular filtration rate (iohexol clearance method), serum urea, creatinine, symmetric dimethylarginine, and 24-h sodium and chloride urinary excretion on the fifth day of each trial period. We analyzed the data with a mixed linear model that included the fixed effects of treatment (treated and control) and trial period, and the random effect of the cat. Compared with controls, cats treated with dapagliflozin had a significant increase in mean (±SE) glomerular filtration rate (3.1 ± 0.2 vs 2.5 ± 0.2 mL/kg/min; P = 0.01), whereas there were no significant differences in serum urea, creatinine and symmetric dimethylarginine, and 24-h urine sodium and chloride excretion. We propose that dapagliflozin-mediated delivery of sodium and glucose distal from the proximal convoluted tubule induced compensatory increased sodium absorption at the thick ascending loop of Henle that resulted in decreased sodium delivery to the distal tubule leading to tubuloglomerular feedback-mediated glomerular hyperfiltration. Future studies should determine if SGLT2is' renoprotective effect in people can be enhanced with the addition of a Na⁺-K⁺-Cl^- diuretic and whether dapagliflozin will be useful in mitigating proteinuria and hypertension that follow glomerular hyperfiltration in diabetic companion animals in a similar mechanism as in people.

AccuMeter noninstrumented quantitative assay of high-density lipoprotein in whole blood

A novel noninstrumented technology (ChemTrak AccuMeter) for the quantitative measurement of analytes in biological fluids was reported at the 1990 Oak Ridge Conference (Clin Chem 1990;36:1591-7). This instrument-free technology has been adapted for the quantitative measurement of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). An in situ lipoprotein separation method has been developed and incorporated into the test for HDL determination. The sensitivity of the assay system has been adjusted so that HDL is measured over a clinically significant range of 250 to 1000 mg/L. This compares to a range of 1000 to 4000 mg/L for the total cholesterol in the earlier reported assay. Like the AccuMeter total cholesterol test, the Accumeter HDL test system is self-contained and consolidates blood separation, lipoprotein separation, and specimen measurement into a single step. The test procedure is simple, and the results are accurate.

First measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters using neutrinos and antineutrinos by NOvA

The NOvA experiment has seen a 4.4σ signal of ν[over ¯]_{e} appearance in a 2 GeV ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam at a distance of 810 km. Using 12.33×10^{20} protons on target delivered to the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beamline, the experiment recorded 27 ν[over ¯]_{μ}→ν[over ¯]_{e} candidates with a background of 10.3 and 102 ν[over ¯]_{μ}→ν[over ¯]_{μ} candidates. This new antineutrino data are combined with neutrino data to measure the parameters |Δm_{32}^{2}|=2.48_{-0.06}^{+0.11}×10^{-3}  eV^{2}/c^{4} and sin^{2}θ_{23} in the ranges from (0.53-0.60) and (0.45-0.48) in the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. The data exclude most values near δ_{CP}=π/2 for the inverted mass hierarchy by more than 3σ and favor the normal neutrino mass hierarchy by 1.9σ and θ_{23} values in the upper octant by 1.6σ.

Extract prepared from the leaves of Ocimum basilicum inhibits the entry of Zika virus

The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks and rapid spread in tropical Latin America since introduction to Brazil in 2014, and now appearing cases in the USA, are alarming. World Health Organization (WHO) has considered transmission of ZIKV, a serious public health problem because of the increasing number of outbreaks. There are currently no drugs approved for the treatment of ZIKV infection. Discovery of safe and effective drugs are hampered by the risk in treating pregnant woman and toxicity to the fetus. Sweet basil, known as Ocimum basilicum in the scientific community, is a very well-known medicinal herb. Numerous studies have documented its beneficial activity against a great variety of human pathogens ranging from bacteria and virus to fungus and protozoans. Although, basil extracts and oils have been tested successfully against other viruses, its application to tackle ZIKV infection has not been exploited at all. In this study, we report for the first time that highly diluted ethanol extracts prepared from basil leaves can effectively inhibit ZIKV replication in Vero E6 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 1:134. The diluted extract as well as the amount of ethanol that goes into its preparation have been found to be completely non-toxic to the above mentioned cell line. The extract seems to inhibit the virus at the step of attachment and entry into the host cell. The specific inhibition of ZIKV observed using the basil leaf extract suggests a new alternative mode of treatment against flavivirus. Keywords: Zika virus; basil extract; antiviral.

Analgesic efficacy of articaine hydrochloride for velvet antler removal in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and analysis of drug residues in the harvested velvet antlers

AIMS

To investigate the analgesic efficacy of articaine hydrochloride for antler removal in red deer (Cervus elaphus) following S/C administration as a ring block, and to quantify the residue concentrations of articaine compared to lignocaine in the harvested antlers.

METHODS

Articaine hydrochloride (40 mg/mL) was administered to 10 male red deer as a ring block around the base of each antler at 1 mL/cm of pedicle circumference. Analgesia was evaluated by determining the response to a saw cut test every 1-minute, until no response was observed. Behaviour during and following removal of antlers was also recorded. Twenty commercially harvested velvet antlers were also collected following S/C administration of 2% lignocaine hydrochloride. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for quantification of residues of articaine and lignocaine in velvet antlers was developed and validated.

RESULTS

In red deer administered 4% articaine hydrochloride as a ring block, the median interval to analgesia was 4 (min 3, max 5) minutes and no deer showed withdrawal responses during antler removal. There were no signs of toxicity or adverse effects up to 2 hours after administration. The sample preparation method developed for the LC-MS was simple and had acceptable extraction recoveries of articaine and lignocaine from the velvet antlers. The lower limits of quantification of lignocaine and articaine were 5 and 50 ng/g, respectively. Mean concentrations of articaine in antlers following ring block with 4% articaine hydrochloride were 1.50 (SD 1.09) mg/kg, and of lignocaine following ring block with 2% lignocaine hydrochloride were 0.66 (SD 0.71) mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A ring block with 4% articaine hydrochloride at a dose of 1 mL/cm of pedicle circumference provided effective analgesia for velvet antler removal in red deer. The LC-MS method developed and validated to quantify articaine and lignocaine was simple and sensitive. Based on these results, articaine hydrochloride appears to be an effective alternative to lignocaine hydrochloride for velvet antler removal. However, further studies to evaluate the safety and residue concentrations of articaine and articainic acid are required before it can be recommended for use in deer.Abbreviations: DMA: 2,6-dimethylaniline; LC-MS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; MEGX: Monoethylglycinexylidide; MRL: Maximum residue level.

Comparison of raw meat quality and protein-gel properties of turkey breast fillets processed by traditional or cold-batter mincing technology

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cold batter mincing on meat quality and protein functionality, using turkey fillets that were chill-boned (CB) or hot-boned (HB) with crust-freeze-air-chilling (HB-¼CFAC) at -12°C. For each of four replications, 48 toms (male) were raised and processed at Michigan State University Poultry Farm and Meat Laboratory, respectively. After evisceration, the turkeys were subjected to one of the four treatments: (1) traditional mincing of CB fillets after water immersion chilling (WIC); (2) cold batter mincing of WIC, CB, quarter-sectioned (¼), and CB-¼CFAC; (3) traditional mincing of HB-¼CFAC fillets; and (4) cold batter mincing of HB-¼CFAC fillets. Before mincing, the pH and R-values of turkey fillets in HB-¼CFAC were higher and lower, respectively, than those in CB fillets. During cold-batter mixing, the initial batter temperatures at -1.5 to -2.1°C reached 1.5°C and 14°C at 6 and 12 min, respectively, and ended at 26 to 31°C at 24 min. During traditional mincing, the initial batter temperatures at 3 to 4°C increased by ∼10°C every 6 min, and ended at 32 to 35°C with higher batter temperatures seen for the 2% salt than the 1% salt batter. Dynamic rheological properties indicated that the cold-batter mincing showed elevated G' compared to the batters of traditional mincing, regardless of mixing time, indicating that the gel-setting temperature was reduced in the cold-batter mincing, potentially due to the different amounts of extracted protein and structural change. After cooking, improved cooking yield and protein functionality were observed in the batter of HB-¼CFAC fillets than the batter of CB fillets as well as in the batter of 2% salt than the batter 1% salt (P < 0.05). These results indicated that HB-¼CFAC fillets produced superior raw meat quality over the CB fillets, and cold batter mincing of HB-¼CFAC fillets significantly improved protein functionality compared with the traditional mincing of CB fillets (P < 0.05).

Quantitative proteomics analysis of sporadic parathyroid adenoma tissue samples

OBJECTIVE

Molecular pathogenesis of parathyroid tumors is incompletely understood. Identification of novel molecules and understanding their role in parathyroid tumorigenesis by proteomics approach would be informative with potential clinical implications.

METHOD

Adenomatous (n = 5) and normal (n = 2) parathyroid tissue lysates were analyzed for protein profile by LC-MS/MS method and the proteins were classified using bioinformatics tools such as PANTHER and toppfun functional enrichment tool. Identified proteins were further validated by western blotting and qRT-PCR (n = 20).

RESULT

Comparative proteomics analysis revealed that a total of 206 proteins (74 upregulated and 132 downregulated) were differentially expressed (≥ twofold change) in adenomas. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 48 proteins were associated with plasma membrane, 49 with macromolecular complex, 39 were cytoplasm, 38 were organelle related, 21 were cell junction and 10 were extracellular proteins. These proteins belonged to a diverse protein family such as enzymes, transcription factors, cell signalling, cell adhesion, cytoskeleton proteins, receptors, and calcium-binding proteins. The major biological processes predicted for the proteins were a cellular, metabolic and developmental process, cellular localization, and biological regulation. The differentially expressed proteins were found to be associated with MAPK, phospholipase C (PLC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) signalling pathways, and with chromatin organization. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis of three proteins (DNAJC2, ACO2, and PRDX2) validated the LC-MS/MS findings.

CONCLUSION

This exploratory study demonstrates the feasibility of proteomics approach in finding the dysregulated proteins in benign parathyroid adenomas, and our preliminary results suggest that MAPK, PLC and PI signalling pathways and chromatin organization are involved in parathyroid tumorigenesis.

Development and evaluation of lateral flow assay for sero-diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis in swine

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne zoonotic flaviviral disease. Swine sero-convert 2-3 weeks before infection occurs in humans and thus serves as a suitable sentinel for JE surveillance and outbreak prediction in human population. The present study was conducted with the objective of developing a lateral flow assay (LFA) for detecting JEV antibodies in swine sera. Three different formats were tried using recombinant NS1 protein as antigen in order to select the best format. In format I, gold nanoparticles were conjugated with antigen followed by spotting of antigen on NCM as test line and anti-antigen IgG on NCM as control line. In format II, gold nanoparticles were conjugated with antigen followed by spotting of staphylococcal protein A as test line and anti-antigen IgG as control line. Format III used gold nanoparticles conjugated with goat anti-pig IgG followed by spotting of antigen as test line and pig IgG as control line. Amongst the three formats, format II was found to be superior with 100% relative diagnostic sensitivity and 100% relative diagnostic specificity during monsoon and post-monsoon period. A panel of 500 field swine serum samples was tested using format II which revealed sero-positivity of 15.6%, and the format was found suitable to screen swine serum samples during monsoon and post-monsoon period.