Influence of Oral Application of Mycophenolic Acid on the Clinical Health Status of Sheep

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is an immunosuppressive metabolite of various fungi, especially of Penicillium roqueforti, and can be found in considerable amounts in mouldy silage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MPA on sheep. Thirty-six castrated male sheep aged 7 +/- 1 months were randomly divided into four groups of nine sheep. Different dosages of MPA were administered orally to all groups (group 1/2/3/4: 0/10/70/300 mg MPA/animal daily) for a period of 44 days. Throughout the trial, the sheep were examined daily. Jugular vein blood was taken twice weekly to analyse haematological and biochemical parameters. No significant influence was observed on the number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, leucocytes (including differentiation), packed cell volume, haemoglobin-, glucose- and bilirubin-concentration, activity of alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and glutamate dehydrogenase. Even an oral application of up to 300 mg MPA/animal daily, which is equivalent to 5.4 mg/kg body weight, did not affect the sheep's general state of health and weight gain significantly. Mycophenolic acid and its glucuronide were analysed in plasma samples of groups treatments from day 1 on with mean concentrations up to 0.29 +/- 0.13 microg/ml (MPA) and 11.0 +/- 2.9 microg/ml (MPA glucuronide) respectively (group 4). There were no indications for a ruminal reduction of MPA. The postmortem dissection revealed minor alterations in lung, spleen, liver and kidneys, unrelated to the MPA dosage. The results of the study indicate that MPA concentrations occurring naturally in silage have no obvious impact on sheep health.

Direct comparison between properties of adaptation of the auditory nerve and the ventral cochlear nucleus in response to repetitive clicks

The present study was designed to complete two previous reports [Loquet, G., Rouiller, E.M., 2002. Neural adaptation to pulsatile acoustical stimulation in the cochlear nucleus of the rat. Hear. Res. 171, 72-81; Loquet, G., Meyer, K., Rouiller, E.M., 2003. Effects of intensity of repetitive acoustic stimuli on neural adaptation in the ventral cochlear nucleus of the rat. Exp. Brain Res. 153, 436-442] on neural adaptation properties in the auditory system of the rat. Again, auditory near-field evoked potentials (ANEPs) were recorded in response to 250-ms trains of clicks from an electrode chronically implanted in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Up to now, our interest had focused on the adaptive behavior of the first one (N1) of the two negative ANEP components. A re-examination of our data for the second negative component (N2) was now undertaken. Results show that the adaptation time course observed for N2 displayed the same three-stage pattern previously reported for N1. Similarly, adaptation became more pronounced and occurred faster as stimulus intensity and/or repetition rate were increased. Based on latency data which suggest N1 and N2 to be mainly due to the activity of auditory-nerve (AN) fibers and cochlear nucleus neurons, respectively, it was concluded that neural adaptation assessed by gross-potentials was similar in the AN and VCN. This finding is meaningful in the context of our search to restore normal adaptation phenomena via electro-auditory hearing with an auditory brainstem implant on the same lines as our work in cochlear implants.

Impulsiveness in obsessive-compulsive disorder: results from a family study

OBJECTIVE

Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is usually conceptualized as an anxiety disorder some studies suggested it to be a deficit of impulse control. The purpose of this study was to assess impulsiveness in OCD families and compare it to control families.

METHOD

Seventy cases and their 139 relatives were compared with 70 controls and their 134 relatives from a German family study on OCD (German Epidemiologic Network for OCD Studies). All subjects were interviewed and diagnosed according DSM-IV criteria and were administered the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and PADUA-Inventory to assess obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

RESULTS

OCD subjects had significantly higher scores of cognitive impulsiveness. However, first-degree relatives of OCD cases and of controls had comparable BIS-11 scores. Significant associations of aggressive obsessions and checking with cognitive impulsiveness were found.

CONCLUSION

OCD is a severe mental disorder that is characterized by a lack of cognitive inhibition. However, impulsiveness does not represent a familial trait in families of OCD subjects.

Distribution and elimination of fumonisin analogues in weaned piglets after oral administration of Fusarium verticillioides fungal culture

The distribution and elimination of fumonisins after oral administration of 50 mg FB(1), 20 mg FB(2) and 5 mg FB(3) per animal day(-1) for 22 days was studied in weaned barrows. At the end of the trial, the lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, brain, serum, bile, muscle, fat, urine and faeces samples were collected and their content of fumonisins (FB(1), FB(2)) determined by LC-MS. The highest FB(1) concentrations were found in the liver (99.4 +/- 37.5 ng g(-1)) and kidneys (30.6 +/- 10.1 ng g(-1)), whilst the highest average amount of FB(2) was in the liver (1.4 +/- 2.3 ng g(-1)) and fat (2.6 ng g(-1) +/- 4.8) samples. Comparing the FB(1)/FB(2) ratio in different organs (19/1), it was found that the ratio in the abdominal and subcutaneous fat samples (4/1) was markedly different from those in all other tissues, namely the relative proportion of FB(2) was higher in latter cases. Of the total quantity of FB(1), the 13% taken up during 5 days was excreted unchanged with the faeces and urine. On average, in the urine and faeces, FB(1) was detected in nine- and 14-fold quantities, as compared with FB(2).

Service integration and co-ordination: a framework of approaches for the delivery of co-ordinated care to children with disabilities and their families

This article clarifies the nature of 'service integration' and 'service co-ordination' and discusses how these aspects relate to the fundamental goal of providing co-ordinated care for children with disabilities and their families. Based on a review of the service delivery literatures in the fields of health, social services and rehabilitation, a framework is presented that outlines the scope of the co-ordination-related functions and activities encompassed in three common types of approaches to the delivery of co-ordinated care. These are a system/sector-based service integration approach, an agency-based service integration approach and a client/family-based service co-ordination approach. The functions outlined in the framework include aggregate-level planning of services (designed to map out the scope and plan for service provision in a community or geographical area), administrative functions (designed to ensure wise and equitable access to resources) and client-specific service delivery functions (designed to link clients/families to needed services). The framework is a tool that can be used to support policy making and decision making with respect to the design of efforts to provide co-ordinated care. It provides information about commonly used approaches and the essential elements of these approaches, which can be used in making choices about the scope and nature of an approach towards service integration/co-ordination.

Effects of Mycophenolic Acid on Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase I and II mRNA Expression in White Blood Cells and Various Tissues in Sheep

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a mycotoxin commonly found as Penicillium genus secondary metabolite in feedstuffs and silages. Feeding with MPA contaminated silages may modulate the immune system in the farm animals and can cause appetite lost, ketosis, paralysis and abortion. The aim of the present study was to characterize the long-term MPA effect on both the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) isoforms I and II mRNA expression in white blood cells (WBC) and various tissue of healthy sheep. In treated animals 300 mg MPA/day/sheep was applied. In all investigated tissues the IMPDH I and II mRNA was abundant: WBC, spleen, thymus, ileum, jejunum, kidney, liver, pharyngeal and mesenterial lymph node. An efficiency-corrected relative quantification of the IMPDH types I and II isoforms mRNA were performed by normalizing with the constant reference gene expression of beta-actin. High IMPDH I mRNA expression levels were seen in kidney > mesenterial lymph node > jejunum > spleen > pharyngeal lymph node. Medium and low abundance was found in ileum > WBC > liver > thymus. Type II mRNA was highly expressed in liver > thymus > jejunum. In pharyngeal lymph node > spleen > ileum > mesenterial lymph node > kidney > WBC medium to low IMPDH II mRNA concentrations were detected. Under MPA treatment the IMPDH I mRNA expression was not significantly regulated in WBC, only trends of down- and upregulation were observed. Surprisingly in jejunum an upregulation could be observed (P < 0.05). In pharyngeal lymph node a tendency to downregulation was shown. This may be due to frequent ruminant activities and frequent exposition of MPA to the pharyngeal lymph nodes. In contrast to type I mRNA expression, IMPDH II mRNA was significantly downregulated in ileum (3.4-fold, P < 0.01) and tendencies in downregulation could be seen in jejunum (5.1-fold, P = 0.14). In addition, significant downregulation of IMPDH II gene expression over the entire feeding experiment could be shown in WBC of MPA-treated animals compared with untreated animals (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the recent study demonstrates that feeding sheep with MPA-contaminated silage did not induce IMPDH I mRNA expression in various tissues and blood, except in jejunum, but has suppressive effects on IMPDH II mRNA expression in WBC and ileum.

Gene expression in skeletal muscle of coronary artery disease patients after concentric and eccentric endurance training

Low-intensity concentric (CET) and eccentric (EET) endurance-type training induce specific structural adaptations in skeletal muscle. We evaluated to which extent steady-state adaptations in transcript levels are involved in the compensatory alterations of muscle mitochondria and myofibrils with CET versus EET at a matched metabolic exercise intensity of medicated, stable coronary patients (CAD). Biopsies were obtained from vastus lateralis muscle before and after 8 weeks of CET (n=6) or EET (n=6). Transcript levels for factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1alpha, Tfam), mitochondrial function (COX-1, COX-4), control of contractile phenotype (MyHC I, IIa, IIx) as well as mechanical stress marker (IGF-I) were quantified using an reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction approach. After 8 weeks of EET, a reduction of the COX-4 mRNA level by 41% and a tendency for a drop in Tfam transcript concentration (-33%, P=0.06) was noted. This down-regulation corresponded to a drop in total mitochondrial volume density. MyHC-IIa transcript levels were specifically decreased after EET, and MyHC-I mRNA showed a trend towards a reduction (P=0.08). Total fiber cross-sectional area was not altered. After CET and EET, the IGF-I mRNA level was significantly increased. The PGC-1alpha significantly correlated with Tfam, and both PGC-1alpha and Tfam significantly correlated with COX-1 and COX-4 mRNAs. Post-hoc analysis identified significant interactions between the concurrent medication and muscular transcript levels as well as fiber size. Our findings support the concept that specific transcriptional adaptations mediate the divergent mitochondrial response of muscle cells to endurance training under different load condition and indicate a mismatch of processes related to muscle hypertrophy in medicated CAD patients.

Estimates of genetic covariance functions for growth of Angus cattle

Estimates of covariance functions and genetic parameters were obtained for growth of Angus cattle from birth to 820 days of age. Data comprised 84,533 records on 20,731 animals in 43 herds, with a high proportion of animals with 4 or more weights recorded. Changes in weights were modelled through random regression on orthogonal polynomials of age at recording. A total of 11 combinations of quadratic, cubic, quartic and quintic polynomials to model direct and maternal genetic effects and permanent environmental effects were considered. Results showed good agreement for all models at ages with many records, but differed at the highest ages and at very early ages with few weights available. Cubic polynomials appeared to be most problematic. The order of polynomial fit for permanent environmental effects of the animal dominated estimates of phenotypic variances and mean squares for residual errors. A model fitting a quartic polynomial for these effects and quadratic polynomials for the other random effects, appeared to be the best compromise between detailedness of the model which could be supported by the data, plausibility of results, and fit, measured as mean square error.

Influence of organosulphur compounds from garlic on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitor TIMP-1 by cultured HUVEC cells

Organosulphur compounds from garlic, especially diallyl disulphide (DADS) at non-toxic concentrations, affected production and secretion of some matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), one of their inhibitors, by human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Addition of DADS to the culture medium resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction of secreted MMP-2 protein and activity as well as TIMP-1 protein. In the presence of inducers (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, forskolin and tumor necrosis factor alpha) addition of DADS caused a distinct concentration-dependent decrease of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 secretion, while not affecting MMP-9 mRNA levels. Intracellular protein levels remained low and were not affected. Other organosulphur compounds like allyl mercaptan and S-allylcysteine showed no or less clear effects on MMP-secretion or TIMP-1-secretion. These results suggest that DADS may mediate some of the biological effects ascribed to garlic preparations through affecting MMP-TIMP balance.

Outcome Following Single vs Bilateral Lung Transplantation in Recipients 60 Years of Age and Older

AIMS

The significant shortage of donor organs in lung transplantation necessitates a careful selection of lung transplant recipients. The outcome of lung transplant recipients aged 60 years and older has not been analyzed systematically.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our experience with older recipients. Between January 1999 and July 2003, 248 patients underwent lung transplantation at our institution, of which 18 were aged 60 years and older (7.3%, range 60-66, mean 62 +/- 1.1).

RESULTS

Eleven (61%) of the recipients 60 years and older received a single (SLTx) and seven (39%), a bilateral lung transplant. Donor age in the single transplant cohort was 30 +/- 4 years. It was 33 +/- 3 years in bilateral patients. Posttransplant ventilation time was significantly different among groups, with 282 +/- 32 hours after bilateral and 56 +/- 13 hours after transplant (P < .05). Also significantly longer was the length of the ICU stay in the bilateral group. First PaO2 in the ICU was not different among the two groups. The 1-year survival in the single transplant group was significantly better compared to the bilateral group with 73% versus 43%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The 1-year survival following lung transplantation in patients older than 60 years is markedly reduced compared to recipients under 60 years of age. If a lung transplant is considered in a recipient above the age of 60 years, a single transplant should be favoured. If that is not indicated, patients over 60 should be very carefully selected for bilateral transplant.

Neuroimaging and 5-HT2C receptor polymorphism: a HMPAO-SPECT study in healthy male probands using mCPP-challenge of the 5-HT2C receptor

BACKGROUND

The human 5-HT (2C) receptor gene has been localized on the X chromosome and is expressed in two genetic variants. Whereas previous investigations have suggested that the 5-HT (2C) receptor gene polymorphism is critically involved in the pathogenesis of affective and eating disorders, as yet the functional consequences being associated with the rare serine variant of the 5-HT (2C) receptor in humans are unclear.

METHODS

We explored by HMPAO-SPECT if a challenge with the serotonin agonist mCPP, that interacts mainly with the 5-HT (2C) receptor, provokes different patterns of regional cerebral bloodflow (rCBF) as a function of the genetic variant of the receptor. Thus we studied its action in 16 healthy male volunteers carrying the common 5-HT (2C)-cys-23 receptor gene and 16 healthy male volunteers carrying the less frequent 5-HT (2C)-ser-23 receptor gene.

RESULTS

We found significant differences in rCBF between the two genotypes after mCPP infusion compared to placebo: In the cysteine group rCBF was increased in the left medial prefrontal cortex and decreased in the left anterior cingulate and right medio-temporal cortex, whereas the serine group showed an increase of rCBF in the left medio- and superior-temporal cortex and in cerebellum and a reduced rCBF in the right medial prefrontal cortex. In addition, there was a significant disordinal interaction of the genotype factors and challenge with an increase of rCBF in the serine group and a decrease in the cysteine group in the left motor cortex and calcarine cortex. Additionally, a decrease of rCBF in the serine-group and a simultaneous increase in the cysteine group was found in the right anterior and the left posterior cingulate cortex.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that differences in the 5-HT (2C) receptor gene polymorphism has functional consequences due to a different responsiveness of the expressed 5-HT (2C) receptor variants.

Regulation of neuronal death and calcitonin gene-related peptide by fibroblast growth factor-2 and FGFR3 after peripheral nerve injury: Evidence from mouse mutants

The presence and regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor and its high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptor FGFR3 in sensory neurons during development and after peripheral nerve injury suggest a physiological role of the fibroblast growth factor-2 system for survival and maintenance of sensory neurons. Here we investigated L5 spinal ganglia of intact and lesioned fibroblast growth factor-2 knock-out and FGFR3 knock-out mice. Quantification of sensory neurons in intact L5 spinal ganglia revealed no differences between wild-types and mutant mice. After sciatic nerve axotomy, the normally occurring neuron loss in wild-type mice was significantly reduced in both knock-out strains suggesting that fibroblast growth factor-2 is involved in neuronal death mediated via FGFR3. In addition, the number of chromatolytic and eccentric cells was significantly increased in fibroblast growth factor-2 knock-out mice indicating a transient protection of injured spinal ganglia neurons in the absence of fibroblast growth factor-2. The expression of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide in sensory neurons of intact fibroblast growth factor-2 knock-out and FGFR3 knock-out mice was not changed in comparison to adequate wild-types. Fibroblast growth factor-2 wild-type and FGFR3 wild-type mice showed a lesion-induced decrease of calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive neurons in ipsilateral L5 spinal ganglia whereas the loss of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive sensory neurons is reduced in the absence of fibroblast growth factor-2 or FGFR3, respectively. In addition, FGFR3 wild-type and knock-out mice displayed a contralateral reduction of the neuropeptide after axotomy. These results suggest that endogenous fibroblast growth factor-2 and FGFR3 are crucially involved in the regulation of survival and calcitonin gene-related peptide expression of lumbar sensory neurons after lesion, but not during development.

The rate of treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients co-infected with HIV in an urban medical centre

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection is common. HIV co-infection results in a higher rate of histologic progression and shorter interval to HCV-related cirrhosis. Successful treatment of HCV with interferon-based therapy reduces the morbidity and mortality of patients. Significant factors may limit the availability of treatment in co-infected patients. The rate of treatment of HCV and limiting factors to treatment in a co-infected population in an urban setting were determined. A retrospective review of co-infected patients was conducted at our liver and gastrointestinal (GI) clinics for treatment of HCV from July 2001 to June 2002. Treatment of HCV and reasons for nontreatment were recorded. A total of 104 HCV/HIV co-infected patients were identified. Seventy-two per cent were males. Mean age was 47.2 years (32-72). Seventy-four of the 82 (90%) with identifiable risk factors for HCV infection had a history of intravenous drug use (IVDU). Twenty per cent (21/104) of the total underwent a liver biopsy. Sixty-seven per cent who had a liver biopsy were treated. Overall, sixteen patients were treated. Eighty-eight (85%) patients were not treated for the following reasons: 13 refused treatment, and 75 were ineligible. Of the ineligible patients, 40% were noncompliant with visits, 15% were active substance abusers, 13% had decompensated cirrhosis, 8% had significant active psychiatric conditions and 24% had significant co-morbid disease. A majority of patients co-infected with HCV/HIV had a IVDU history. Most co-infected patients were not eligible for HCV treatment. A majority of noncandidates had potentially modifiable psychosocial factors leading to nontreatment.

Advances in methodology for random regression analyses

Random regression analyses have become standard methodology for the analysis of traits with repeated records that are thought of as representing points on a trajectory. Modelling curves as a regression on functions of a continuous covariable, such as time, for each individual, random regression models are readily implemented in standard, linear mixed model analyses. Early applications have made extensive use of regressions on orthogonal polynomials. Recently, spline functions have been considered as an alternative. The use of a particular type of spline function, the so-called B-splines, as basis functions for random regression analyses is outlined, emphasising the local influence of individual observations and low degree of polynomials employed. While such analyses are likely to involve more regression coefficients than polynomial models, it is demonstrated that reduced rank estimation via the leading principal components is feasible and likely to yield more parsimonious models and more stable estimates than full rank analyses. The combined application of B-spline basis function and reduced rank estimation is illustrated for a small set of data for beef cattle.