Immunomodulatory actions of a Polynesian herb Noni (Morinda citrifolia) and its clinical applications.

Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is a popular traditional medicinal plant consumed in various forms in several countries around the world as a complementary and alternative treatment due to its established health benefits. Noni is rich in bioactive substances and has significantly exhibited pro-oxidant and immunomodulatory effects. In this review, we highlight the pharmacological basis related to the phytochemicals and polysaccharides present in Noni and its potential therapeutic effects.

The effect of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination on early pregnancy loss in beef heifers in Argentina.

The threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in South America has global economic implications and retaining a FMD Free status under the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) remains a top priority. In Argentina the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA), the national service of agri-food health and quality, requires cattle located in the Pampean region of the Salado River basin to receive two foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations per year, which results in one vaccination coinciding with beef cattle breeding season. While the vaccination program remains necessary, there is a growing concern amongst food animal veterinarians, that the overlap of FMD vaccination with the first 35 days of the breeding season is associated with early pregnancy loss (EPL).

The Impact of Lactobacillus casei on the Composition of the Cecal Microbiota and Innate Immune System Is Strain Specific.

The probiotic function to impact human health is thought to be related to their ability to alter the composition of the gut microbiota and modulate the human innate immune system. The ability to function as a probiotic is believed to be strain specific. Strains of Lactobacillus casei are commonly utilized as probiotics that when consumed alter the composition of the gut microbiota and modulate the host immune response.

The Effect of Lactobacillus casei 32G on the Mouse Cecum Microbiota and Innate Immune Response Is Dose and Time Dependent.

Lactobacilli have been associated with a variety of immunomodulatory effects and some of these effects have been related to changes in gastrointestinal microbiota. However, the relationship between probiotic dose, time since probiotic consumption, changes in the microbiota, and immune system requires further investigation. The objective of this study was to determine if the effect of Lactobacillus casei 32G on the murine gastrointestinal microbiota and immune function are dose and time dependent.

Human Clostridium difficile infection: inhibition of NHE3 and microbiota profile.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is principally responsible for hospital acquired, antibiotic-induced diarrhea and colitis and represents a significant financial burden on our healthcare system. Little is known about C. difficile proliferation requirements, and a better understanding of these parameters is critical for development of new therapeutic targets.

Treatment with aspirin or clopidogrel does not affect equine platelet expression of P selectin or platelet-neutrophil aggregates.

Inflammation-induced P-selectin (CD62P) expression on platelets and endothelial cells facilitates interactions among platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and can also promote coagulation. The effects of clopidogrel and aspirin (ASA) on equine platelet CD62P expression were investigated. Six horses were treated in a cross-over design with clopidogrel (2mg/kg PO q 24) or ASA (5mg/kg PO q 24h) for 5 days.

Modified ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy for management of otitis media in an alpaca.

Objective: To report surgical treatment of severe otitis media in an alpaca by a modification of a subtotal ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy technique used in dogs.

Study Design: Case report.

Animals: An 11-week-old female alpaca cria.

Secondary renal tubular acidosis in a Hereford calf.

A 3-month-old Hereford heifer calf was presented for lethargy. Blood gas analysis and plasma biochemical testing revealed severe metabolic acidosis, azotemia, hyponatremia, hyperchloremia, and normal anion gap. Results of a urinalysis were consistent with acute tubular necrosis with inadequate acidification of urine based on the degree of acidemia.

Equine PSGL-1 modifications required for P-selectin binding.

Equine PSGL-1 (ePSGL-1) is widely expressed on equine PBMC as a homodimer with sialylation (sLeX) modifications that contribute to P-selectin binding affinity. To investigate the role of other potential post-translational modifications required for high-affinity P-selectin binding, ePSGL-1 was transfected into CHO cells expressing equine FucT-VII and/or C2GnT. P-selectin-IgG chimera binding by ePSGL-1 transfected into CHO cells only occurred when both FucT-VII and C2GnT were expressed, establishing that fucosylation and core-2 branching are required as post-translational modifications for high-affinity P-selectin binding.

Coagulation values in normal ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) using selected methods and reagents.

Background: Accurate determination of commonly measured coagulation values would be useful in the diagnosis and management of coagulopathies in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). We are unaware of reports of coagulation times in this species.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine reference values for prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrinogen concentration, and antithrombin (AT) activity in ferrets using selected methods and reagents.

Characterization of equine P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 by using a specific monoclonal antibody.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL-1) is a widely distributed adhesion molecule that plays a critical role in regulating lymphocyte homing and leukocyte trafficking during inflammation. The lack of specific reagents for equine PSGL-1 (ePSGL-1) has prevented mechanistic studies regarding its function and regulation in the horse. We synthesized a ePSGL-1 peptide to generate a monoclonal antibody (mAb), ePL1.

Cloning and functional characterization of recombinant equine P-selectin.

The recent molecular characterization and sequencing of equine P-selectin (ePsel), and its glycoprotein ligand, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), have provided the tools for further investigation into their role in leukocyte trafficking. Here, we report the generation of a genetically engineered chimeric protein (ePsel-IgG) in which the equine P-selectin lectin and epithelial growth factor (EGF) domains were covalently linked to the equine IgG1 heavy chain constant region. The soluble ePsel-IgG was observed to bind to equine monocytes by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.

Prognostic value of clinicopathologic variables obtained at admission and effect of antiendotoxin plasma on survival in septic and critically ill foals.

This prospective study compared survival rates of critically ill and septic foals receiving 1 of 2 different types of commercial equine plasma and analyzed admission variables as possible predictors of survival. Standardized clinical, hematologic, biochemical, and hemostatic admission data were collected and foals received either conventional commercially available hyperimmune equine plasma or equine plasma specifically rich in antiendotoxin antibodies in a double-blinded, coded fashion. Sepsis was defined as true bacteremia or sepsis score >11.

Molecular cloning and characterization of bovine P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1.

Human P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a dimeric membrane mucin expressed on leukocytes that binds selectins. Here, we report that the open reading frame (ORF) of bovine PSGL-1 (bPSGL-1) cDNA is 1284 base pairs in length, predicting a protein of 427 amino acids including an 18-amino-acid signal peptide, an extracellular region with a mucin-like domain, and transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The amino acid sequence of bPSGL-1 demonstrated 52, 49 and 40% overall homology to equine, human and mouse, respectively.

Biochemical markers of cardiac injury in normal, surviving septic, or nonsurviving septic neonatal foals.

The cardiac biomarkers cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and I (cTnI) and the cardiac isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CKMB) are used extensively in human medicine to diagnose and provide valuable prognostic information in patients with ischemic, traumatic, and septic myocardial injury. We designed a study to establish normal values for these markers in healthy, neonatal foals and to compare them with values obtained from septic neonates in a referral hospital population. The 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles for cTnI and CKMB in the healthy-foal population were 0.

Identification of equine P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (CD162).

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1, CD162) is a dimeric, mucin-like, transmembrane glycoprotein constitutively expressed on leukocytes. A high baseline level of P-selectin expression in circulating equine platelets suggests a primed state toward inflammation and thrombosis via P-selectin/PSGL-1 adhesion. To investigate the potential role of equine P-selectin in these events, we first identified the cDNA sequence of equine PSGL-1 (ePSGL-1) using degenerate PCR and RACE-PCR and then compared the predicted sequence with that of human PSGL-1 (hPSGL-1).

Bovine platelets activated by Haemophilus somnus and its LOS induce apoptosis in bovine endothelial cells.

Haemophilus somnus is a bacterial pathogen that causes respiratory disease and vasculitis in cattle. Thrombotic meningoencephalitis (TME) and other severe forms of H. somnus-mediated vascular disease are characterized histopathologically by vasculitis, thrombosis, and infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells.

Plasma endotoxin concentration in horses: a methods study.

Background: Accurate determination of plasma endotoxin concentration is critical for ex vivo and in vitro cellular and molecular studies of endotoxemia in horses. However, reports are conflicting with respect to anticoagulant, handling, and sample preparation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of blood sample fraction and handling time on measurement of endotoxin concentration in horses.

Equine platelet CD62P (P-selectin) expression: a phenotypic and morphologic study.

Acute inflammatory diseases, such as colic, septicemia and endotoxemia are common in equines and have been shown to be correlated to vascular injury and thrombosis. In humans with similar thrombotic conditions, P-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1)-mediated platelet-leukocyte adhesion contributes to the pathogenesis of these disorders through the generation of inflammatory mediators and tissue factor. As such, we hypothesized that a P-selectin-PSGL-1 (platelet-leukocyte) interaction, similar to that in humans, may also exist in the horse.

Effect of inhaled endotoxin on cardiopulmonary function and E-selectin expression in pigs.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of controlled exposure to inhaled lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the pulmonary inflammatory response of anesthetized pigs.

Animals: Forty-seven 8- to 12-week-old domestic pigs.

Procedure: Pigs were anesthetized with pentobarbital, instrumented for measurement of cardiopulmonary function, and randomly assigned to receive saline (0.

Modulation of monocyte signaling and pore formation in response to agonists of the nucleotide receptor P2X(7).

Previous reports about the nucleotide receptor P2X(7), which exhibits ion channel and pore-forming activity and is known to promote IL-1beta processing, have centered largely on its role in macrophage function, whereas its participation in monocyte activity has been unclear. However, because extracellular ATP has been shown to affect monocytes with respect to IL-1beta release, we hypothesized that the P2X(7) receptor is also present and functional in a subpopulation of blood monocytes. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that about 70% of monocytes isolated from normal human donors expressed the P2X(7) receptor.