Anak Agung Gde Fandhiananta Widyanjaya, Chollada Buranakarl, Krishaporn Kradangnga
et al.
Abstract Short-term effects of elongated soft palate correction on cardiovascular function and heart rate variability (HRV) were studied in eleven French Bulldogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). The oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure (BP), electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, short-term HRV, and modified BOAS questionnaire were carried out before and one month after surgical correction of BOAS. Significant reduction in the respiratory rate was reported after surgery (P < 0.05, 95% CI [-16, -2]). No significant differences were observed in SpO2, BP, ECG, and echocardiographic parameters both before and after surgery. Most of the questionnaire scores were improved after surgery. The HRV results after surgery showed a significant reduction in vagally mediated indices and a relative shift toward low frequency (LF) components. These changes were correlated to the clinical improvement from modified BOAS questionnaire. Although surgery improved questionnaire scores, the short-term changes in HRV likely reflect altered breathing patterns rather than definitive relief of ‘parasympathetic overactivity’. Longer follow-up with better respiratory control, or comparison among brachycephalic breeds is needed to clarify the direct impact of surgery on autonomic function.
Markéta Harazim, Lubomír Piálek, Hana Bandouchova
et al.
Hibernation profoundly alters host–pathogen dynamics by suppressing metabolism and immune function, posing unique challenges for infection control. In this study, we examined how genomic variation modulates infection and physiological traits in temperate bats during hibernation. We combined infection screening, haematology, blood biochemistry, and whole-genome sequencing across five vespertilionid species, identifying over 170,000 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and assessing their associations with 23 health-related variables. Using the phylogenetically informed treeWAS framework, we detected 515 significant SNVs linked to traits including fungal, protozoan and bacterial infections, acid–base balance, and blood cell indices. These SNVs mapped to 137 unique genes, which were enriched for functional domains related to cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane trafficking, and intracellular signalling (e.g., SH3, C2, BAR, semaphorin). Notably, canonical immune effector genes were underrepresented, and several trait-associated SNVs appeared in blocks across multiple scaffolds, pointing to regulatory loci as key modulators of hibernator health. Our findings support the hypothesis that bats rely on infection tolerance rather than resistance during hibernation, with genomic variation in regulatory and signalling pathways shaping their physiological responses to infection under energy-limited conditions.
Reji Varghese, K. Gayathri, Syam K. Venugopal
et al.
An Indian rock python rescued by the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Government of Kerala was brought to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. The reptile weighing 7 kg was presented in a conscious and responsive state, with a steel arrow dart gathered at its midlength. It was sedated with ketamine 10 mgkg and midazolam 0.2 mgkg prior to survey radiography. The dart was penetrating the muscles just lateral to the spine, in between the ribs and covering the entire width of the coelomic cavity. The python was intubated, and anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane. The wound was dissected to free the dart, but the reverse barb was trapped between the ribs. Hence, the shaft was unscrewed, and the barb was carefully removed, but the attempts to retrieve the arrowhead failed as it was trapped within the deep ventral muscular layers distal to the visceral organs. The trapped arrowhead was retrieved under C-Arm image intensifier assistance, and the tissue injuries were repaired in the routine manner. Postoperative antibiotic therapy was instituted, and the python made an uneventful recovery at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and was released into the forest after one week.
Renata Barić Rafaj, Ivana Rubić, Josipa Kuleš
et al.
Obesity is currently one of the major medical problems affecting humans and companion animals, including cats; however, a detailed understanding of the metabolic processes altered in feline obesity remains limited. This study aimed to investigate obesity-related changes in the serum metabolome of three groups of cats, metabolically healthy normal-weight (MHN) cats, metabolically healthy overweight (MHO) cats, and metabolically unhealthy overweight (MUO) cats. Metabolome changes were assessed using LC-MS (untargeted), LC-MS (targeted), and FIA-MS (targeted) methods. Untargeted analysis detected 141 significant annotated features, while targeted approach identified 48 metabolites significantly associated with obesity. Both untargeted and targeted analyses showed lower kynurenine levels in the MUO group compared to the MHN group. Targeted LC-MS analysis identified 11 significant metabolites, whereas the FIA-MS approach detected 37. Four metabolites—glycine, citrulline, and two phosphatidylcholines—were found at lower levels in the MHO group compared to the MHN group. Arginine and proline metabolism, along with methionine metabolism, were significantly altered pathways, while thyroid hormone synthesis was independently altered with the highest enrichment ratio. The obtained results suggest that cats with a healthy phenotype exhibit an intermediate-metabolic-risk profile and provide new insights into the metabolic mechanisms and pathways underlying feline obesity.
RETRACTION: S. Zhang, J. Wang, Z. Xin, C. Sun, Z. Ju, X. Xue, W. Jiang, Q. Xin, J. Wang, Z. Zhang, and Y. Luan, “Effect of Oridonin on Experimental Animal Model of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia,” Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 125, no. 9 (2024): e30632, https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.30632 . The above article, published online on 16 July 2024 in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor‐in‐Chief, Christian Behl; and Wiley Periodicals LLC. Following publication, it has come to the attention of the journal that the article was accepted solely on the basis of compromised peer review processes. Furthermore, multiple conclusions are not sufficiently supported by the data. Accordingly, the article is retracted as the editors consider its conclusions to be invalid.
Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) play important roles in the innate immune systems of both plants and animals. Recent breakthroughs in NLR biochemistry and biophysics have revolutionized our understanding of how NLR proteins function in plant immunity. In this review, we summarize the latest findings in plant NLR biology and draw direct comparisons to NLRs of animals. We discuss different mechanisms by which NLRs recognize their ligands in plants and animals. The discovery of plant NLR resistosomes that assemble in a comparable way to animal inflammasomes reinforces the striking similarities between the formation of plant and animal NLR complexes. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanisms by which plant NLRs mediate immune responses and draw comparisons to similar mechanisms identified in animals. Finally, we summarize the current knowledge of the complex genetic architecture formed by NLRs in plants and animals and the roles of NLRs beyond pathogen detection. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Plant Biology, Volume 72 is May 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Gabriela F. Toledo, Marcia K. Nagamine, Victor Nowosh
et al.
Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) is a common neoplasm in canines, although it is rare in humans. Cancer cells present alterations in energetic metabolism, and the Warburg effect states that most cancer cells undergo aerobic glycolysis. This can be reversed by certain drugs, resulting in decreased cell viability and cell death. We sought to evaluate the effects of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) and omeprazole (OMP) alone or in combination on canine OMM and human melanoma cells. CMGD5 and SK-MEL-28 cell lines were treated with DCA and OMP alone or in combination, and cell viability was assessed using the crystal violet assay. Cell death (apoptosis and necrosis) was assessed by Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining assays using flow cytometry. In addition, the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was evaluated using a SeaHorse XF assay. Treatment with DCA or OMP alone resulted in a significant, but not dose-dependent, reduction in cell viability in both cell lines; however, the combination of DCA and OMP resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in viability in both cell lines. DCA and OMP, alone or in combination, did not alter OCR at the concentrations tested in either cell line. Since the combination of DCA and OMP potentialized the inhibition of viability and increased cell death in a synergistic manner in melanoma cells, this approach may represent a new repurposing strategy to treat cancer.
Mihaiela Cornea-Cipcigan, Andrea Bunea, Cosmina Maria Bouari
et al.
The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare in vitro antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and the individual carotenoids and anthocyanins content of methanol extracts of the Cyclamen genotypes: Persian cyclamen accessions (<i>Cyclamen persicum</i> Mill.), sowbread (<i>C. mirabile</i> Hildebr.), and ivy-leaved cyclamen (<i>C. hederifolium</i> Mill.) aerial parts. The HPLC-PDA analysis revealed the presence of five individual carotenoids (i.e., neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, and cis-β-carotene) as the main compounds in <i>Cyclamen</i> leaves, and the presence of seven individual anthocycanins (i.e., cyanidin 3,5-di-<i>O</i>-glucoside, peonidin-rutinoside, peonidin 3,5-di-<i>O</i>-glucoside, peonidin 3-<i>O</i>-glucoside, malvidin 3-<i>O</i>-glucoside, malvidin 3,5-di-<i>O</i>-glucoside, and malvidin-rutinoside) in Cyclamen flowers reported, hereby, for the first time. The highest phenolic content was found in the leaves of LC6, <i>C. mirabile</i> (46.32 ± 0.14 mg/g gallic acid equivalents [GAE]), and in the flowers of <i>C. persicum</i> Merengue Magenta (FC15) (58.63 ± 0.17 mg/g GAE), whereas the highest flavonoid content was reported in <i>C. persicum</i> Halios Falbala leaves, namely LC9 (54.90 ± 0.27 mg/g quercetin equivalents [QE]) and in flowers of <i>C. persicum</i> Victora (FC2) (77.87 ± 0.25 mg/g QE). The highest antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays was reported in <i>C. persicum</i> Dark Violet (LC1) and Victoria (LC2), whereas <i>C. mirabile</i> (LC6) had the highest activity in the TEAC assay. In flowers, high antioxidant activities in DPPH and TEAC were noticed in <i>C. persicum</i> Superserie Red (FC7) and Dark Violet (FC1), respectively, and Halios Falbala (FC9) exhibited the highest activity in the TEAC assay. Additionally, FC9 exhibited the highest antibacterial activity in almost all tested bacteria compared with the leaves extracts. Furthermore, the highest in vitro citotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells was noticed in <i>C. hederifolium</i> LC18 (56.71–69.35%) and FC18 (40.07–41.43%), with a lower effect against BJ cells demonstrating selective toxicity. The above findings, highlight the potential use of the Cyclamen flower and leaf extracts as significant anticancer agents along with their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Rosaria Arena, Adja Cristina Lira de Medeiros, Giulia Secci
et al.
The awareness of the correlation between administered diet, fish health and products’ quality has led to the increase in the research for innovative and functional feed ingredients. Herein, a plant-derived product rich in bioactive compounds, such as honeybee pollen (HBP), was included as raw (HBP) and as Supercritical Fluid Extracted (SFE) pollen (HBP_SFE) in the diet for gilthead seabream (<i>Sparus aurata</i>). The experiment was carried out on 90 fish with an average body weight of 294.7 ± 12.8 g, divided into five groups, according to the administration of five diets for 30 days: control diet (CTR); two diets containing HBP at 5% (P5) and at 10% (P10) level of inclusion; two diets containing HBP_SFE, at 0.5% (E0.5) and at 1% (E1) level of inclusion. Their effects were evaluated on 60 specimens (336.2 ± 11.4 g average final body weight) considering the fish growth, the expression of some hepatic genes involved in the inflammatory response (<i>il-1β, il-6</i> and <i>il-8</i>) through quantitative real-time PCR, and physico-chemical characterization (namely color, texture, water holding capacity, fatty acid profile and lipid peroxidation) of the fish fillets monitored at the beginning (day 0) and after 110 days of storage at −20 °C. The results obtained showed that the treatment with diet E1 determined the up-regulation of <i>il-1β</i>, <i>il-6</i>, and <i>il-8</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05); however, this supplementation did not significantly contribute to limiting the oxidative stress. Nevertheless, no detrimental effect on color and the other physical characteristics was observed. These results suggest that a low level of HBP_SFE could be potentially utilized in aquaculture as an immunostimulant more than an antioxidant, but further investigation is necessary.
Konstantina Stamperna, Themistoklis Giannoulis, Eleni Dovolou
et al.
Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a chaperon that stabilizes unfolded or partially folded proteins, preventing inappropriate inter- and intramolecular interactions. Here, we examined the developmental competence of in vitro matured oocytes exposed to heat stress with or without HSP70. Bovine oocytes were matured for 24 h at 39 °C without (group C39) or with HSP70 (group H39) and at 41 °C for the first 6 h, followed by 16 h at 39 °C with (group H41) or without HSP70 (group C41). After insemination, zygotes were cultured for 9 days at 39 °C. Cleavage and embryo yield were assessed 48 h post insemination and on days 7, 8, 9, respectively. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR in oocytes, cumulus cells and blastocysts. In C41, blastocysts formation rate was lower than in C39 and on day 9 it was lower than in H41. In oocytes, HSP70 enhanced the expression of three HSP genes regardless of incubation temperature. HSP70 at 39 °C led to tight coordination of gene expression in oocytes and blastocysts, but not in cumulus cells. Our results imply that HSP70, by preventing apoptosis, supporting signal transduction, and increasing antioxidant protection of the embryo, protects heat stressed maturing bovine oocyte and restores its developmental competence.
Elopichthys bambusa is an economically important freshwater fish with high nutritional value. In this study, we compared domesticated and wild fish at the physiological, biochemical, histological, and molecular levels to better understand the changes that occur in farmed fish in order to provide ideas about how to optimize the artificial feed formulation used in aquaculture of this species. Water, ash, and crude protein contents did not differ significantly between the two groups. The methionine and glutamic acid contents were 20% and 13.4% higher in the domesticated group than that in the wild group, respectively. Twenty-three types of fatty acids were detected in the wild group compared to 11 in the domesticated group. The iron content in the domesticated group was higher than that in the wild group. The blood index values did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein (TP), and globulin (GLO) contents. The ALT content in the wild group was significantly higher and the TP and GLO contents were significantly lower than those in the domesticated group. Histologically, significant differences in the numbers of folds, villi, and goblet cells were detected between the two groups. The expression of t1r1 and t1r3 in the intestines and gills of the domesticated group was significantly lower than that of the wild group. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the reproduction and breeding studies and the quality identification of domesticated Elopichthys bambusa. It will promote the development of large-scale farming of Elopichthys bambusa.
Kornravee Photichai, Thunyamas Guntawang, Tidaratt Sittisak
et al.
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infection is known to cause acute fatal hemorrhagic disease, which has killed many young Asian elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>). Until recently, in vitro isolation and propagation of the virus have not been successful. This study aimed to isolate and propagate EEHV using continuous cell lines derived from human and/or animal origins. Human cell lines, including EA. hy926, A549, U937, RKO, SW620, HCT-116 and HT-29, and animal cell lines, including CT26.CL25 and sp2/0-Ag14, were investigated in this study. Mixed frozen tissue samples of the heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidney obtained from fatal EEHV1A- or EEHV4-infected cases were homogenized and used for cell inoculation. At 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post infection (hpi), EEHV-inoculated cells were observed for cytopathic effects (CPEs) or were assessed for EEHV infection by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) or quantitative PCR. The results were then compared to those of the mock-infected controls. Replication of EEHV in the tested cells was further determined by immunohistochemistry of cell pellets using anti-EEHV DNA polymerase antibodies or re-inoculated cells with supernatants obtained from passages 2 or 3 of the culture medium. The results reveal that no CPEs were observed in the tested cells, while immunolabeling for EEHV gB was observed in only U937 human myeloid leukemia cells. However, quantitation values of the EEHV terminase gene, as well as those of the EEHV gB or EEHV DNA polymerase proteins in U937 cells, gradually declined from passage 1 to passage 3. The findings of this study indicate that despite poor adaptation in U937 cells, this cell line displays promise and potential to be used for the isolation of EEHV1 and EEHV4 in vitro.
Abstract Genome packaging is a fundamental process in a viral life cycle and a prime target of antiviral drugs. Herpesviruses use an ATP-driven packaging motor/terminase complex to translocate and cleave concatemeric dsDNA into procapsids but its molecular architecture and mechanism are unknown. We report atomic structures of a herpesvirus hexameric terminase complex in both the apo and ADP•BeF3-bound states. Each subunit of the hexameric ring comprises three components—the ATPase/terminase pUL15 and two regulator/fixer proteins, pUL28 and pUL33—unlike bacteriophage terminases. Distal to the nuclease domains, six ATPase domains form a central channel with conserved basic-patches conducive to DNA binding and trans-acting arginine fingers are essential to ATP hydrolysis and sequential DNA translocation. Rearrangement of the nuclease domains mediated by regulatory domains converts DNA translocation mode to cleavage mode. Our structures favor a sequential revolution model for DNA translocation and suggest mechanisms for concerted domain rearrangements leading to DNA cleavage.
The His723Arg (H723R) mutation in SLC26A4, encoding pendrin, is the most prevalent mutation in East Asia, resulting in DFNB4, an autosomal recessive type of genetic hearing loss. Although the main pathological mechanism of H723R was identified as a protein-folding defect in pendrin, there is still no curative treatment for associated hearing loss. Here, we show that H723R-pendrin expression and activity are rescued by activation of the chaperonin DNAJC14. In vitro, DNAJC14 was activated via Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) inoculation, and toxin-attenuated JEV rescued the surface expression and anion exchange activity of H723R-pendrin. Human H723R-pendrin transgenic mice (hH723R Tg) were established in a mouse slc26a4 knockout background, in which only hH723R-pendrin was expressed in the inner ear (Pax2-Cre dependent) to mimic human DFNB4 pathology. Crossing hH723R Tg with DNAJC14-overexpressing mice resulted in reduced cochlear hydrops and more preserved outer hair cells in the cochlea compared to those in hH723R Tg mice. Furthermore, the stria vascularis and spiral ligament were thicker and KCNJ10 expression was increased with DNAJC14 overexpression; however, hearing function and enlarged endolymphatic hydrops were not recovered. These results indicate that DNAJC14 overexpression ameliorates the cochlear degeneration caused by misfolded pendrin and might be a potential therapeutic target for DFNB4.
Objective This study investigated the effects of oral administration of rumen-protected L-tryptophan (RPL-T) on duodenal starch digestion and gastrointestinal hormones (GIH) secretions using Hanwoo beef steers as the animal models. Methods Four steers (423±24 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were employed in a crossover design replicated twice. Treatments were control (basal diet) and RPL-T (basal diet+191.1 mg/kg body weight [BW]) group. Blood and duodenal samples were collected to measure serum GIH levels and pancreatic α-amylase activity at day 0, 1, 3, and 5 (−30, 30, 90, 150, and 210 min) of the study. Samples from each segment of the gastrointestinal tract were collected via ruminal and duodenal cannulas and were used to determine soluble protein and the starch digestion rate at days 6 (−30, 180, 360, and 540 min) and 8 (−30, 90, 270, and 450 min) of the experiment. Results No significant difference in ruminal pH, NH3-N, and total volatile fatty acid including the levels of acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, isovalerate, and the acetate-to-propionate ratio was observed between groups (p>0.05). Crude protein uptake was higher and feces starch content was lower in RPL-T group than the control group (p<0.05). The D-glucose contents of feces in RPL-T group decreased at day 5 compared to those in the control group (p<0.05), however, no change was found at day 0, 1, or 3 compared to the control group (p>0.05). Serum cholecystokinin (CCK), melatonin, duodenal pancreatic α-amylase activity, and starch digestion were significantly higher in RPL-T group than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion Taken together, oral administration of RPL-T at the rate of 191.1 mg/kg BW consistently increased CCK concentration, pancreatic α-amylase activity in duodenal fluids, and starch digestion rate in the small intestine and thus found to be beneficial.
Samiru Sudharaka Wickramasuriya, Shemil Priyan Macelline, Eunjoo Kim
et al.
Objective An experiment was conducted to investigate the response of laying hens fed corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) that are naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON). Methods One hundred and sixty 52-week-old Lohmann Brown Lite hens were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments with 8 replicates per treatment. The dietary treatments were formulated to provide a range of corn DDGS contaminated with DON from 0% to 20% (i.e., 5% scale of increment). All laying hens were subjected to the same management practices in a controlled environment. Body weight, feed intake and egg production were measured biweekly for the entire 8-week experiment. The egg quality was measured biweekly for 8 weeks. On weeks 4 and 8, visceral organ weights, blood metabolites, intestinal morphology, and blood cytokine concentrations were measured. Results The inclusion of corn DDGS contaminated with DON in the diet did not alter (p> 0.05) the body weight, feed intake, hen-day egg production, egg mass and feed efficiency of the laying hens. No difference was found (p>0.05) in the egg quality of hens that were fed the dietary treatments. Furthermore, hens that were fed a diet containing corn DDGS contaminated with DON showed no change (p>0.05) in the visceral organ weights, the blood metabolites, and the cytokine concentrations. The crypt depth increased (p<0.05) as the amount of corn DDGS contaminated with DON increased. Proportionately, the villus height to crypt depth ratio of the laying hens decreased (p<0.05) with the increasing level of corn DDGS contaminated with DON in the diet. Conclusion The inclusion of corn DDGS contaminated with DON up to 20% in layer diets did not cause changes in egg production performance and egg quality, which indicates that DON is less toxic at the concentration of 1.00 mg DON/kg.
Gleidiana Amélia Pontes de Almeida, Marcelo de Andrade Ferreira, Janaina de Lima Silva
et al.
Objective The study aimed to evaluate sugarcane bagasse as roughage in lactating cow on feed intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, milk production and composition, and microbial protein synthesis. Methods Ten Girolando cows at initial body weight of 450±25.6 kg and at 143.7±30.7 days in milk were assigned in two 5×5 Latin square designs. Five 21-day experimental periods were adopted (1° to 14-day: diets adaptation period; 15° to 21-day: data collection and sampling period). The diets consisted of four different levels of sugarcane bagasse (45%, 50%, 55%, and 60%) and a control diet, commonly adopted in the region, based on spineless cactus (25% sugarcane bagasse), formulated to meet 12 kg/d milk yield. Results The dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and total digestible nutrients intakes and DM and OM digestibilities observed for 45% and 50% bagasse inclusion were similar to control diet, while that 55% and 60% bagasse inclusion were lower. Cows fed control diet, and bagasse diets of 45%, and 50% levels had the nutritional requirements attended, that guaranteed 12 kg/d of milk yield. The crude protein intake and digestibility of cows fed 45%, 50%, and 55% of bagasse inclusion were similar to control diet. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake and digestibility differ for all bagasse diets related to control diet, while the non-fiber carbohydrates intake and digestibility for cows fed 45% of bagasse were similar for control diet. The intakes and digestibilities of nutrients decreased linearly in function of bagasse inclusion; NDF and indigestible NDF intakes did not vary. The ruminating time, feeding and rumination efficiency, microbial protein synthesis and milk yield decreased linearly with sugarcane bagasse inclusion. Conclusion Sugarcane bagasse decreases milk production; however, its inclusion level in between 45% to 50% associated to concentrate could replace diets based on spineless cactus for crossbred dairy cow's producing 12 kg/d of milk.