Haemato-immunological and growth response of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed a tropical earthworm meal in experimental diets

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding a tropical earthworm meal (Perionyx escavatus) on the haemato-immunological response and growth performance of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish were fed diets for a total of 88 days, fishmeal served as the main protein source in the control diet. Two remaining diets consisted of fishmeal fixed at 33.65% provision of protein and the remaining 66.35% protein was provided by soybean meal (SBM diet) or P. excavatus meal (EW diet). Compared to control and SBM fed fish (7.69 ± 0.28 and 5.92 ± 0.31 g/dl, respectively), a significant increase in haemoglobin was measured in EW fed fish (9.57 ± 0.24 g/dl). Consequently significant elevations were also observed in mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH; 79.13 ± 4.59 pg) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC; 22.69 ± 0.54 pg) in EW fed fish. On the contrary, compared to control and SBM fed carp total leukocyte levels (2.72 ± 0.17 and 3.10 ± 0.17 × 10(4)/mm(3), respectively) were significantly decreased in the EW group (2.15 ± 0.14 × 10(4)/mm(3)). Moreover at day 14 and 21 post immunisation with bacterin isolated from Aeromonas hydrophila fish fed the EW diet displayed a significant reduction in respiratory burst activity (RBA) compared to control and SBM fed fish. After 60 days of feeding, fish fed EW diet showed a significant elevation in final body weight compared to fish fed a fishmeal based diet (control treatment) and fish fed a soybean meal based diet. Similar improvements were observed in feed utilisation efficiency. The present study shows that feeding P. excavatus meal to mirror carp decreases some aspects of the innate immune response, but at the same time gives rise to significant enhancement of growth and feed utilisation efficiency.

Pseudomonas M162 confers protection against rainbow trout fry syndrome by stimulating immunity

AIMS

  To evaluate the antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas M162 against Flavobacterium psychrophilum.

METHODS AND RESULTS

  The antagonistic activity of M162 was tested in vivo and in vitro, and its mode of action examined by siderophore production and immunological responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry. Pseudomonas M162 inhibited the growth of Fl. psychrophilum in vitro and increased the resistance of the fish against the pathogen, resulting in a relative per cent survival (RPS) of 39·2%. However, the siderophores produced by M162 did not have an inhibitory effect on Fl. psychrophilum. In fish fed with M162, the probiotic colonized the gastrointestinal tract and stimulated peripheral blood leucocyte counts, serum lysozyme activity and total serum immunoglobulin levels after 3 weeks from the start of feeding.

CONCLUSIONS

  This study showed the potential of Pseudomonas M162 as a probiotic by reducing the mortalities that occurred during an experimental Fl. psychrophilum infection, resulting mainly through the immunostimulatory effects of the bacterium.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

  Rainbow trout fry syndrome (RTFS) causes high mortalities during the early life stages of the fish's life cycle, partly because their adaptive immunity has not yet fully developed. Thus, immunomodulation by probiotics could be an effective prophylactic method against RTFS.

Estimation of self-diffusion coefficients of small penetrants in semicrystalline polymers using single-sided NMR

A simple and fast way to measure proton self-diffusion coefficients of small penetrant molecules in semicrystalline polymers is introduced. The approach takes advantage of the strong static gradient of a mobile single-sided NMR sensor and it is demonstrated on PE samples with varying degrees of crystallinity fully saturated in either toluene or n-hexane. The self-diffusion coefficients were measured using the gradient stimulated echo sequence appended with a CPMG. It is also shown for the first time, with demonstration on PE plates several millimeter thick with different aging histories, that one-dimensional profiles of self-diffusion coefficients as a function of depth can be easily obtained.

Examining the relationship between risk assessment and risk management in mental health

Thorough risk assessment helps in developing risk management plans that minimize risks that can impede mental health patients' recovery. Department of Health policy states that risk assessments and risk management plans should be inextricably linked. This paper examines their content and linkage within one Trust. Four inpatient wards for working age adults (18-65 years) in a large mental health Trust in England were included in the study. Completed risk assessment forms, for all patients in each inpatient ward were examined (n= 43), followed by an examination of notes for the same patients. Semi-structured interviews took place with ward nurses (n= 17). Findings show much variability in the amount and detail of risk information collected by nurses, which may be distributed in several places. Gaps in the risk assessment and risk management process are evident, and a disassociation between risk information and risk management plans is often present. Risk information should have a single location so that it can be easily found and updated. Overall, a more integrated approach to risk assessment and management is required, to help patients receive timely and appropriate interventions that can reduce risks such as suicide or harm to others.

Who should be offered sperm banking for fertility preservation? A survey of UK oncologists and haematologists

BACKGROUND

Fertility after cancer therapy is a significant quality-of-life concern for many patients, their partners and families. Authoritative guidance states that men whose fertility may be affected by impending therapies should be offered sperm banking. Yet some patients are not offered this opportunity and are thereby disadvantaged. We sought to understand oncologists' and haematologists' decision making concerning sperm-banking referrals.

DESIGN

We surveyed all oncologists and haematologists on the Royal College of Radiotherapists' Faculty of Oncology and British Society for Haematology circulation lists.

RESULTS

From 2357 across all specialties, 499 responses were received: 253 haematologists and 246 oncologists (21% response rate). Twenty-one percent of respondents were unaware of local policies on sperm banking and 42% considered that sperm banking should be offered to more patients. Respondents' decisions reveal either assumptions about patients' needs based on characteristics such as age, sexual orientation and severity of illness or the influence of their own moral conclusions upon their patients. The survey identified paucity of training for clinicians, information for patients and systematic recording of discussions about fertility.

CONCLUSIONS

A robust care infrastructure supporting male fertility storage is needed urgently to include targeted information for cancer clinicians and patients, identified individuals responsible for coordination and documentation of discussions with patients.

Association of red-mark syndrome with a Rickettsia-like organism and its connection with strawberry disease in the USA

Red-mark syndrome (RMS), a disease seen mostly in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is of unknown aetiology. The research presented here indicates the presence of an intracellular bacterium in RMS-affected fish. A positive reaction was observed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with skin lesions, liver, kidney and spleen of affected fish sampled from several locations within the United Kingdom using two different polyclonal antisera raised against Piscirickettsia salmonis. The same reaction was also seen with a number of different anti-P. salmonis monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). A disease with similar clinical signs to RMS, referred to as strawberry disease (SD), has been reported in the USA. A Rickettsia-like organism (RLO) has recently been associated with SD based on analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. Using the same panel of anti-P. salmonis antibodies used to screen the RMS samples, similar staining was obtained in tissue of SD-affected fish by IHC. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using RLO-specific primers was also performed on RMS-affected fish from the United Kingdom, and the samples were positive for the RLO 16S rRNA sequence. These findings suggest that the same aetiological agent may be responsible for RMS in the United Kingdom and SD in the USA.

Concurrent injection of a rhabdovirus-specific DNA vaccine with a polyvalent, oil-adjuvanted vaccine delays the specific anti-viral immune response in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

Vaccines are commonly used in salmonid aquaculture as a method of disease prevention. Although there is a substantial amount of published research regarding the immunological and physiological effects following the injection of different polyvalent vaccines and DNA vaccines, there are no published reports examining the physiological and immunological effects of concurrent vaccine injection, which is the situation encountered in aquaculture. Using key immunological parameters such as lysozyme activity and specific antibody titres we examined the short-term activation of the immune response of cultured Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) following concurrent injection with a traditional, polyvalent, oil-adjuvanted vaccine (AV) and an IHNV-specific DNA vaccine (DV). Our results indicate that different aspects of the innate and adaptive immune responses are influenced in either a positive or negative manner. While concurrent vaccine injection elicited an increase in lysozyme activity, changes in antibody titre (Ab) were antigen specific. The production of anti-Aeromonas salmonicida Abs was significantly greater in the combined vaccine group at 296 degree days post-vaccine injection (dd pvi), while the production of anti-Listonella anguillarum Abs was significantly greater at 106 dd pvi in the combined vaccine group. Of even greater interest was the apparent delay in production of IHNV-specific neutralizing antibodies (NAb) when the DV was injected concurrently with the polyvalent AV. The results indicated that concurrent injection of a polyvalent oil-AV and a DV can be beneficial to the production of antibodies; however, the specific anti-viral response may be delayed.

The search for the IFN-gamma receptor in fish: Functional and expression analysis of putative binding and signalling chains in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Interferons (IFNs), consisting of three major subfamilies, type I, type II (gamma) and type III (lambda) IFN, activate vertebrate antiviral defences once bound to their receptors. The three IFN subfamilies bind to different receptors, IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 for type I IFNs, IFNgammaR1 and IFNgammaR2 for type II IFN, and IL-28R1 and IL-10R2 for type III IFNs. In fish, although many types I and II IFN genes have been cloned, little is known about their receptors. In this report, two putative IFN-gamma receptor chains were identified and sequenced in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and found to have many common characteristics with mammalian type II IFN receptor family members. The presented gene synteny analysis, phylogenetic tree analysis and ligand binding analysis all suggest that these molecules are the authentic IFNgammaRs in fish. They are widely expressed in tissues, with IFNgammaR1 typically more highly expressed than IFNgammaR2. Using the trout RTG-2 cell line it was possible to show that the individual chains could be differentially modulated, with rIFN-gamma and rIL-1beta down regulating IFNgammaR1 expression but up regulating IFNgammaR2 expression. Over-expression of the two receptor chains in RTG-2 cells revealed that the level of IFNgammaR2 transcript was crucial for responsiveness to rIFN-gamma, in terms of inducing gammaIP expression. Transfection experiments showed that the two putative receptors specifically bound to rIFN-gamma. These findings are discussed in the context of how the IFNgammaR may bind IFN-gamma in fish and the importance of the individual receptor chains to signal transduction.

Association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and body mass index in cancer

6625

Background: The association between vitamin D and obesity remains unsettled with studies reporting conflicting findings on the relationship between the two. This association assumes even greater importance in cancer because of the alleged role of vitamin D in cancer risk and survival. Currently, the dietary recommendations for Vitamin D do not take into account a person's body mass index (BMI). We investigated the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and BMI in a large sample of cancer patients. Methods: A consecutive case series of 740 cancer patients seen at Cancer Treatment Centers of America from Jan 08 to June 08. Serum 25(OH)D was measured at presentation to the hospital. The cohort was divided in 4 BMI groups (<18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9, and >30.0 kg/m2). Correlation between 25(OH)D and BMI was evaluated using Spearman correlation coefficient. Mean 25(OH)D was compared across the 4 BMI groups using ANOVA. Linear regression was used to quantify the relationship between BMI and 25(OH)D. Results: Of 740 patients, 303 were males and 437 females. The mean age at presentation was 55.7 years (SD = 10.2). The mean BMI was 27.9 kg/m2 (SD = 6.7). Most common cancers were lung (134, 18.1%), breast (131, 17.7%), colorectal (97, 13.1%), pancreas (86, 11.6%), prostate (45, 6.1%) and ovarian (39, 5.3%). The mean serum 25(OH)D was 21.9 ng/ml (SD = 13.5). Analysis revealed that as BMI groups increased from normal to overweight or obese classifications, there was a significant decrease in 25(OH)D (Table). The Spearman correlation between 25(OH)D and BMI was -0.20 (p = 0.001). Every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI was significantly associated with a 0.43 ng/ml decline in serum 25(OH)D (p = 0.001). Conclusions: We found that obese cancer patients (BMI >=30 kg/m2) had significantly lower levels of serum 25(OH)D as compared to nonobese patients (BMI <30 kg/m2). BMI should be taken into account when assessing a patient's vitamin D status and more aggressive vitamin D supplementation should be considered in obese cancer patients.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and nutritional status: Implications for vitamin D assessment and dietary supplementation in oncology

9638

Background: There is emerging evidence in the literature to suggest a protective role of vitamin D in cancer survival. Vitamin D status is not routinely assessed, despite the high prevalence of malnutrition in this population. We hypothesized that malnutrition could contribute to vitamin D deficiency, and therefore expected mean serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels to be significantly lower in malnourished oncology patients. Methods: A consecutive case series of 737 cancer patients seen at Cancer Treatment Centers of America between Jan-June 08. Nutritional status was assessed using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and serum albumin. SGA categorizes patients into 3 distinct classes of nutritional status; well nourished (SGA-A), moderately malnourished (SGA-B) and severely malnourished (SGA-C). Serum albumin was divided into 2 groups: >=3.6 g/dl and <=3.5 g/dl. Mean serum 25(OH)D was compared across 3 categories of SGA using ANOVA and across 2 categories of serum albumin using 2 sample t test. Results: Of 737 patients, 302 were males and 435 females. The mean age at presentation was 55.7 years (SD = 10.2). The most common cancer types were lung (133, 18%), breast (131, 17.8%), colorectal (97, 13.2%), pancreas (86, 11.7%), prostate (44, 6%) and ovarian (38, 5.2%). The mean serum albumin and serum 25(OH)D was 3.5g/dl (SD = 0.6) and 21.9 ng/ml (SD = 13.5) respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean vitamin D levels across serum albumin (p = 0.76). The mean vitamin D levels across the 3 classes of SGA also showed no statistically significant difference ( Table ). Conclusions: Contrary to what we expected, vitamin D deficiency was found to be prevalent in cancer regardless of nutritional status. No significant differences were found across the 3 classes of SGA. Based on these results, screening for vitamin D deficiency and aggressive vitamin D repletion should be considered for all people with cancer. [Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Detection and identification of aquatic mycobacteria in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded fish tissues

The isolation of mycobacteria from field samples is problematic, and isolation of the bacterium is sometimes not even attempted. The detection of mycobacteria through traditional histology using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues is neither sensitive nor specific. However, detection of mycobacterial DNA from FFPE specimens, suspected of being infected with mammalian mycobacteriosis, is a routine clinical procedure. In the present study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method was used to detect and identify mycobacteria in FFPE specimens sampled from fish suspected of being infected with fish mycobacteriosis. A total of 45 fish tissue samples, comprising of 12 tissue samples obtained from experimentally infected fish and the remainder from fish naturally infected with mycobacteria, were analysed using a PCR protocol which amplifies a fragment of the mycobacterial 65 kDa heat-shock protein (hsp65) gene. PCR-restriction enzyme analysis and/or sequencing were employed to further analyse the PCR amplicons. The PCR results were compared with those obtained by histology and culture. Mycobacterial DNA was detected in 34 of the 45 samples examined, of which 16 samples (47%) showed granulomatous reactions on histological examination. Using histology as the gold standard, no false-negative PCR results were obtained. Also, considering the presence or absence of granulomas as a diagnostic criterion, the sensitivity and specificity of PCR in 42 of the FFPE tissues were 16/16 (100%) and 8/26 (approximately 30.8%), respectively. Corresponding microbiological cultures were available for 15 cases, of which 13 were pure Mycobacterium cultures. Of these, 13 were PCR positive (100% sensitivity and 50% specificity). The PCR-based methods used here proved sensitive, specific and rapid for the detection of mycobacteria in routinely processed paraffin wax-embedded and formalin-fixed histological samples, and the results of the study suggest that this method has potential use in retrospective epidemiological studies.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of the total triterpene acid fraction from Folium Eriobotryae

For seeking the good natural material to develop new agent to treat diabetes, the total triterpene acid (TTA) fraction extracted from Folium Eriobotryae [leaves of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] was evaluated for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic potential through normal, alloxan and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice administered with graded oral doses (100, 200, 300 mg/(kg day)) for 7 or 14 days. The results showed that a dose of 300 mg/kg of TTA is the most effective dose to cause significant (p<0.01) hypoglycemic and/or hypolipidemic effects on normal, alloxan and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. This dose also significantly (p<0.01) lowered the glycosylated serum protein (GSP), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) level in severely diabetic mice. Furthermore, TTA increased the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and the serum insulin level of diabetic mice. These evidences indicated that the total triperpene acid fraction from Folium Eriobotryae has a high anti-diabetic potential along with a good hypolipidemic profile.

Chinese herbs (Astragalus radix and Ganoderma lucidum) enhance immune response of carp, Cyprinus carpio, and protection against Aeromonas hydrophila

The effect of Chinese herbs (Astragalus radix and Ganoderma lucidum) on immune response of carp was investigated. Fish were fed diets containing Astragalus (0.5%), Ganoderma (0.5%) and combination of two herbs (Astragalus 0.5% and Ganoderma 0.5%) for 5 weeks. Other groups of fish were vaccinated (i.p.) against Aeromonas hydrophila/Aeromonas salmonicida (Shering Plough, Essex, U.K.) at the beginning of the experiment and fed the same diets as described above. Control fish (negative control) and fish vaccinated only (positive control) were fed basal diets without supplements of herbs. The respiratory burst activity, phagocytosis, lysozyme activity and circulatory antibody titres in plasma were monitored. Following 5 weeks after feeding, fish were infected with A. hydrophila and mortalities were recorded. The results of this study showed that feeding non-vaccinated and vaccinated carp with combination of Astragalus and Ganoderma stimulated respiratory burst activity, phagocytosis of phagocytic cells in blood and lysozyme and circulatory antibody titres in plasma in vaccinated carp. Fish challenged with A. hydrophila had variable survival. The best survival (60%) was in vaccinated group fed with both herbs, while almost 90% of control fish (negative control) and 60% of fish vaccinated only (positive control) died.

Evaluation of the INNO-LiPA mycobacteria v2 assay for identification of aquatic mycobacteria

Fifty-seven isolates of mycobacteria comprising 10 reference strains, 47 field isolates and one non-Mycobacterium isolate were screened using commercial INNO-LiPA v2 assay kits. All mycobacteria isolates tested hybridized with the Mycobacterium genus probe on the LiPA strip. All M. marinum, M. fortuitum and M. chelonae reference and field strains and three out of the four M. gordonae isolates hybridized to their corresponding species- or complex-specific probes. Two cultures (a type strain and a field isolate) yielded mixed growth of two mycobacterial species, i.e. M. chelonae and M. fortuitum. A Mycobacterium isolate from one of these cultures was subsequently purified and correctly identified with the kit. However, sequence analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of various mycobacteria isolates revealed a misidentification of M. shottsii and M. pseudoshottsii with the kit because these isolates reacted with the M. marinum/M. ulcerans probe. Moreover, nine of the 13 field isolates presumed to be M. fortuitum from the results of the kit had closer ITS sequence homology with M. conceptionense, a species which, to our knowledge, has never been reported in fish. These findings highlight the need to redesign the M. fortuitum-M. peregrinum probe included in the INNO-LiPA assay and to introduce additional complex-specific probes into the kit. Nevertheless, the kit proved to be a rapid and reliable method for identifying mycobacteria in the aquatic environment and would be particularly useful in laboratories without sequencing facilities.