Effect of short-term dopamine reduction on insulin sensitivity and post-prandial insulin and glucose responses in Standardbred horses.

The role of dopamine in the regulation of insulin secretion in horses is poorly understood and requires further investigation. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is associated with decreased activity of dopaminergic neurons which normally suppress peptide hormone secretion from the pituitary pars intermedia. A high proportion of horses with PPID also have insulin dysregulation (ID), characterised by post-prandial hyperinsulinaemia and/or tissue insulin resistance, which are risk factors for the development of laminitis.

Physiological and metabolic effects of short-term dopamine reduction in healthy horses using a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor (alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine).

Alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT) is a reversible inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. This study aimed to determine whether AMPT could reduce dopamine concentrations in horses. Six healthy adult Standardbred geldings were administered AMPT (40 mg/kg BW, orally) or placebo in a randomised crossover study design.

The detection of ACTH and insulin in equine plasma by solid-phase extraction and micro-flow LC/MSMS.

Previous liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods for the detection of insulin and other similar peptide hormones in equine plasma relied on the use of antibody affinity extraction. As a result, these methods were not suitable for routine high-throughput analysis. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method incorporating size exclusion as well as reversed-phase interactions allows the selective extraction of peptide hormones such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin and their synthetic analogues from equine plasma with approximately 80% extraction efficiencies.

Detection of Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Virus and Equine Hepacivirus in Archived Sera from Horses in France and Australia.

Reports of newly discovered equine hepatotropic flavi- and parvoviruses have emerged throughout the last decade in many countries, the discovery of which has stimulated a great deal of interest and clinical research. Although commonly detected in horses without signs of disease, equine parvovirus hepatitis (EqPV-H) and equine hepacivirus (EqHV) have been associated with liver disease, including following the administration of contaminated anti-toxin. Our aim was to determine whether EqPV-H and EqHV are present in Australian horses and whether EqPV-H was present in French horses and to examine sequence diversity between strains of both viruses amongst infected horses on either side of the globe.

Strongyle egg shedding and egg reappearance periods in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is the most common endocrine disorder of older horses. Immune dysfunction in horses with PPID could increase susceptibility to infectious diseases, including strongyle infections; however, few data are available. The aim of this study was to determine if horses with PPID had increased strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) compared with control horses, over a fourteen-week period in Victoria, Australia.

Evidence for dopamine production and distribution of dopamine D2 receptors in the equine gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas.

Insulin dysregulation in horses is characterised by hyperinsulinaemia and/or tissue insulin resistance and is associated with increased risk of laminitis. There is growing evidence in other species that dopamine attenuates insulin release from the pancreas; however, this has yet to be examined in horses. The present study aimed to identify whether there are cells capable of producing or responding to dopamine within the equine gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas.

Matrix Protein TasA is Interfacially Active, but BslA Dominates Interfacial Film Properties.

Microbial growth often occurs within multicellular communities called biofilms, where cells are enveloped by a protective extracellular matrix. serves as a model organism for biofilm research and produces two crucial secreted proteins, BslA and TasA, vital for biofilm matrix formation. BslA exhibits surface-active properties, spontaneously self-assembling at hydrophobic/hydrophilic interfaces to form an elastic protein film, which renders biofilm surfaces water-repellent.

Levodopa for Dystonia in Children: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Background: Levodopa is used to treat hyperkinetic movements in children with dopa-responsive dystonia. However, levodopa may also be helpful in treating other forms of dystonia when used beyond a brief trial period.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all children referred to our institution for evaluation of generalized dystonia and subsequently treated with carbidopa-levodopa.

Epidemiological investigation of insulin dysregulation in Shetland and Welsh ponies in Australia.

Background: Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to equine metabolic syndrome. There are limited epidemiological studies investigating dynamic testing of ID in ponies.

Objectives: To evaluate prevalence and risk factors for ID through dynamic testing of hyperinsulinaemia (DHI) and insulin resistance (IR).

Lateral interactions govern self-assembly of the bacterial biofilm matrix protein BslA.

The soil bacterium is a model organism to investigate the formation of biofilms, the predominant form of microbial life. The secreted protein BslA self-assembles at the surface of the biofilm to give the biofilm its characteristic hydrophobicity. To understand the mechanism of BslA self-assembly at interfaces, here we built a molecular model based on the previous BslA crystal structure and the crystal structure of the BslA paralogue YweA that we determined.

Clinical implications of imprecise sampling time for 10- and 30-min thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation tests in horses.

Background: The thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test is used to diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) using 10- or 30-min protocols. Imprecise sampling time for the 10-min protocol can lead to misdiagnoses.

Objectives: To determine the effect of imprecise sampling time for the 30-min protocol of the TRH stimulation test.

Development of a body condition index to estimate adiposity in ponies and horses from morphometric measurements.

Background: There is a high prevalence of obesity in ponies and pleasure horses. This may be associated with equine metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of laminitis. Body condition scoring (BCS) systems are widely used but are subjective and not very sensitive.

Evaluation of field-testing protocols to diagnose insulin dysregulation in ponies using a Bayesian approach.

Field tests and their association with laminitis have not been evaluated in large cohorts. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of basal insulin (BI), the oral sugar test (OST) and the insulin tolerance test (ITT) to diagnose ID and investigate their association with laminitis. Insulin dysregulation status was determined in 146 ponies using BI (insulin concentration >20 µIU/mL), an OST (insulin concentration >65 µIU/mL at 60 or 90 min after oral administration of 0.

Microbial Primer: An introduction to biofilms - what they are, why they form and their impact on built and natural environments.

Biofilms are complex communities of microbes that are bound by an extracellular macromolecular matrix produced by the residents. Biofilms are the predominant form of microbial life in the natural environment and although they are the leading cause of chronic infections, they are equally deeply connected to our ability to bioremediate waste and toxic materials. Here we highlight the emergent properties of biofilm communities and explore notable biofilms before concluding by providing examples of their major impact on our health and both natural and built environments.

Investigation of breed differences in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations among healthy horses and ponies.

Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration is commonly measured to diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect ACTH concentrations, including breed. The objective of this study was to prospectively compare plasma ACTH concentrations among different breeds of mature horses and ponies.

Evaluation of an HMGA2 variant contribution to height and basal insulin concentrations in ponies.

Background: The HMGA2:c.83G>A variant was identified in Welsh ponies having pleiotropic effects on height and insulin concentration.

Objective: Determine whether the HMGA2:c.

A 1-Tesla MRI system for dedicated brain imaging in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of a point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI for identification of intracranial pathologies within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods: Clinical findings and point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI imaging findings of NICU patients (1/2021 to 6/2022) were evaluated and compared with other imaging modalities when available.

Results: A total of 60 infants had point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI; one scan was incompletely terminated due to motion.

Age-dependent white matter microstructural disintegrity in autism spectrum disorder.

There has been increasing evidence of White Matter (WM) microstructural disintegrity and connectome disruption in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We evaluated the effects of age on WM microstructure by examining Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) metrics and connectome Edge Density (ED) in a large dataset of ASD and control patients from different age cohorts. = 583 subjects from four studies from the National Database of Autism Research were included, representing four different age groups: (1) A Longitudinal MRI Study of Infants at Risk of Autism [infants, median age: 7 (interquartile range 1) months, = 155], (2) Biomarkers of Autism at 12 months [toddlers, 32 (11)m, = 102], (3) Multimodal Developmental Neurogenetics of Females with ASD [adolescents, 13.

Translational challenges and opportunities in biofilm science: a BRIEF for the future.

Biofilms are increasingly recognised as a critical global issue in a multitude of industries impacting health, food and water security, marine sector, and industrial processes resulting in estimated economic cost of $5 trillion USD annually. A major barrier to the translation of biofilm science is the gap between industrial practices and academic research across the biofilms field. Therefore, there is an urgent need for biofilm research to notice and react to industrially relevant issues to achieve transferable outputs.

Preclinical Evaluation of Recombinant Microbial Glycoside Hydrolases as Antibiofilm Agents in Acute Pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection.

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa can colonize the airways of patients with chronic lung disease. Within the lung, P. aeruginosa forms biofilms that can enhance resistance to antibiotics and immune defenses.

Co-Operative Biofilm Interactions between and through Secreted Galactosaminogalactan Exopolysaccharide.

The mold and bacterium form biofilms in the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis. Biofilm formation by depends on the self-produced cationic exopolysaccharide galactosaminogalactan (GAG), while biofilms can contain the cationic exopolysaccharide Pel. GAG and Pel are rendered cationic by deacetylation mediated by either the secreted deacetylase Agd3 () or the periplasmic deacetylase PelA ().

Comparison of Feed Digestibility between Ponies, Standardbreds and Andalusian Horses Fed Three Different Diets.

Ponies and some horse breeds such as Andalusians exhibit an 'easy keeper' phenotype and tend to become obese more readily than other breeds such as Standardbreds. Various hypotheses have been proposed, including differences in appetite or metabolic efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effect of breed on nutrient digestibility.

Preclinical Evaluation of Recombinant Microbial Glycoside Hydrolases in the Prevention of Experimental Invasive Aspergillosis.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous mold that can cause invasive pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients. Within the lung, A. fumigatus forms biofilms that can enhance resistance to antifungals and immune defenses.