Effects of haemolysis, lipaemia and bilirubinaemia in canine C-reactive protein and haptoglobin determination by time-resolved fluorometry: short communication.

C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (Hp) are well-known acute phase proteins in the dog. Currently, a commercial ELISA and a colorimetric assay are the methods of choice for measuring CRP and Hp, respectively; however, these assays showed interference when using haemolysed, lipaemic or hyperbilirubinaemic samples. Recently, time-resolved immunofluorometric assays (TR-IFMAs) have been developed for measuring canine CRP and Hp.

Optimization of a spectrophotometric method for quantification of acid-soluble glycoprotein in porcine serum.

The concentration of acid-soluble glycoprotein (ASG) in serum can be measured by selective precipitation with perchloric acid and then spectrophotometric quantification of the protein content in the supernatant. The purpose of this work was to standardize and optimize this procedure in pigs and to establish an automated protocol for quantification of the protein content in the supernatant with the use of bicinchoninic acid and copper sulfate. The greatest concentration of ASG was obtained when serum was incubated with 0.

Donor fat embolism and primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation.

Primary lung graft dysfunction is one of the major causes of perioperative morbidity and mortality in lung transplantation. Primary lung graft dysfunction is a clinical syndrome occurring in the immediate postoperative period after lung transplantation and is characterized by severe hypoxemia, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary infiltrates on chest x-ray film, requiring that the patient remain intubated and thus favoring pulmonary infection, sepsis, and subsequent multiple organ failure in the transplanted patient. It has recently been shown that unexpected pulmonary embolism is relatively common in the donor and is associated with primary lung graft dysfunction.

Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and haptoglobin in pigs inoculated with African swine fever or classical swine fever viruses.

Objective: To determine serum concentrations of the selected acute-phase proteins (APPs) haptoglobin, serum amyloid A (SAA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in pigs experimentally inoculated with classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF) viruses.

Animals: 8 crossbred (Large White x Landrace) 10-week-old pigs.

Procedures: Pigs were allocated to 2 groups (4 pigs/group).

Relationship between serum acute phase protein concentrations and lesions in finishing pigs.

To establish the relationship between serum levels of three acute phase proteins, haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA), and the occurrence and severity of lesions at slaughter, a study was carried out using 70 fattening pigs from a finishing unit. Pigs were divided into three groups: Group 1 (25 pigs with clinical signs of disease), Group 2 (25 apparently healthy pigs with lesions at slaughter) and Group 3 (20 apparently healthy pigs with no lesions at slaughter). Serum levels of CRP, SAA and Hp were significantly higher in pigs with clinical signs of disease than in apparently healthy animals.

Large-scale RNAi screens identify novel genes that interact with the C. elegans retinoblastoma pathway as well as splicing-related components with synMuv B activity.

Background: The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb) acts in a conserved pathway that is deregulated in most human cancers. Inactivation of the single Rb-related gene in Caenorhabditis elegans, lin-35, has only limited effects on viability and fertility, yet causes changes in cell-fate and cell-cycle regulation when combined with inactivation of specific other genes. For instance, lin-35 Rb is a synthetic multivulva (synMuv) class B gene, which causes a multivulva phenotype when inactivated simultaneously with a class A or C synMuv gene.

Segregation of postembryonic neuronal and glial lineages inferred from a mosaic analysis of the Drosophila larval brain.

Due to its intermediate complexity and its sophisticated genetic tools, the larval brain of Drosophila is a useful experimental system to study the mechanisms that control the generation of cell diversity in the CNS. In order to gain insight into the neuronal and glial lineage specificity of neural progenitor cells during postembryonic brain development, we have carried an extensive mosaic analysis throughout larval brain development. In contrast to embryonic CNS development, we have found that most postembryonic neurons and glial cells of the optic lobe and central brain originate from segregated progenitors.

A time-resolved immunofluorometric assay for porcine C-reactive protein quantification in whole blood.

A time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TR-IFMA) for C-reactive protein (CRP) determination in whole blood of pigs was developed and validated. CRP was isolated from porcine acute-phase serum by affinity chromatography on agarose, coupled with phosphorylethanolamine and polyclonal antibodies to porcine CRP were purified from antiserum raised in sheep immunized with porcine CRP. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were in the range 3.

Neurogenic role of Gcm transcription factors is conserved in chicken spinal cord.

Although glial cells missing (gcm) genes are known as glial determinants in the fly embryo, the role of vertebrate orthologs in the central nervous system is still under debate. Here we show for the first time that the chicken ortholog of fly gcm (herein referred to as c-Gcm1), is expressed in early neuronal lineages of the developing spinal cord and is required for neural progenitors to differentiate as neurons. Moreover, c-Gcm1 overexpression is sufficient to trigger cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation in neural progenitors.

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Tinto and Odiel Rivers (SW Spain). Factors controlling metal contents.

The Tinto and Odiel Rivers are strongly affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) due to the intense sulphide mining developed in their basins over the past 5000 years. In this study the results obtained from a weekly sampling in both rivers, before their mouth in the Ría of Huelva, over three and a half years of control are analysed. In the Tinto River, the concentrations of sulphates, Al, Cd, Co, Li and Zn are double to those of the Odiel as a consequence of lower dilution.

No supernovae associated with two long-duration gamma-ray bursts.

It is now accepted that long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced during the collapse of a massive star. The standard 'collapsar' model predicts that a broad-lined and luminous type Ic core-collapse supernova accompanies every long-duration GRB. This association has been confirmed in observations of several nearby GRBs.

Validation of a commercially available human immunoturbidimetric assay for haptoglobin determination in canine serum samples.

Haptoglobin is a positive acute-phase protein with a valuable role as a marker of inflammation in both human and veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to validate a commercially available immunoturbidimetric method designed for human haptoglobin determination (Izasa SA, Barcelona, Spain) for its use in canine samples. Cross-reactivity between anti-human haptoglobin antiserum and canine haptoglobin was found when agarose gel immunodiffusion and ELISA tests were performed.

[Pneumonectomy in octogenarian patients].

Recent decades have witnessed a progressive aging of the population and a resulting increase in the numbers of elderly patients seeking health care. Since age and pneumonectomy are independent predictors of perioperative morbidity and mortality, such surgery is not recommended for octogenarian patients. We report the experience of 6 such patients who underwent pneumonectomy for squamous cell carcinoma in 5 cases and a typical carcinoid tumor in the sixth.

Comparison of two automated spectrophotometric methods for ceruloplasmin measurement in pigs.

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) determination could provide an objective measure of the health status of an animal and could be used as marker of animal health and welfare (Skinner, 2001) (Skinner, J. G., 2001.

Analytical validation of commercially available methods for acute phase proteins quantification in pigs.

The aim of this study was to validate commercially available methods for porcine haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and major acute phase protein (Pig-MAP) determinations. Intra and inter assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were lower than 20% in all cases with exception of inter assay CVs for CRP and Pig-MAP assays with samples of low acute phase proteins concentration, and for SAA assay at any acute phase proteins concentration. All methods showed good linearity and detection limits were low enough to detect APPs levels in healthy animals.

Porcine acute phase protein concentrations in different diseases in field conditions.

Five acute phase proteins (APPs) [C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), pig-MAP and albumin] were measured in pigs with naturally occurring infections by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and in animals with tail and ear bites, arthritis and other acute inflammatory processes. Healthy specific pathogen-free (SPF) pigs were used as controls. In PRRSV-infected pigs, all APPs with the exception of pig-MAP exhibited significant changes compared with controls.

Evidence of an acute phase response in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), haematocrit (HCT) and platelet number (PLT) were quantified and compared with the acute phase proteins (APPs) in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis and healthy dogs. Both groups were treated with imidocarb dipropionate on the day of admission and both groups were monitored for all parameters on the admission day and on the first, second, third, fourth and seventh days in order to determine the presence of an acute phase reaction, to assess the diagnostic value of these markers in uncomplicated canine babesiosis and to evaluate the use of APPs in treatment monitoring. It was demonstrated that an acute phase response occurs in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis, with significant increases in the concentration of major acute phase proteins.

Response of broilers to feeding low-calcium and phosphorus diets plus phytase under different environmental conditions: body weight and tibiotarsus mineralization.

Three experiments on Ross broiler chickens were conducted in 3 locations: cages (Experiment 1), floor pens (Experiment 2), and commercial farms (Experiment 3). The effect of low-total P (TP) wheat-soybean based diets plus microbial phytase (Natuphos) was evaluated. Four experimental starter and finisher diets were used in a 2-phase feeding program, as follows: control diet (SC until 21 d, FC from 22 to 42 d); 2 diets (SL400 and SL600 until 21 d, FL400 and FL600 from 22 to 42 d) with low TP (0.

Genetic variability of Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations from Latin America is associated with variations in susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis cry toxins.

Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from Latin American soil samples that showed toxicity against three Spodoptera frugiperda populations from different geographical areas (Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil) were characterized on the basis of their insecticidal activity, crystal morphology, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of parasporal crystals, plasmid profiles, and cry gene content. We found that the different S. frugiperda populations display different susceptibilities to the selected B.

Concentrations of C-reactive protein in effusions in dogs.

The concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured in effusions from 50 dogs to assess the potential for measuring this protein to differentiate body cavity fluids. The effusions were classified as either transudates, modified transudates or exudates according to their total protein concentration, total nucleated cell count, cytological findings and aetiology, and the concentration of CRP was determined by a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. There were significant differences between the concentrations of CRP in the three types of effusion; the highest concentrations were observed in the exudates (4.

A primary cell culture of Drosophila postembryonic larval neuroblasts to study cell cycle and asymmetric division.

Drosophila melanogaster is a key model system that has greatly contributed to the advance of developmental biology through its extensive and sophisticated genetics. Nevertheless, only a few in vitro approaches are available in Drosophila to complement genetic studies in order to better elucidate developmental mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level. Here we present a dissociated cell culture system generated from the optic lobes of Drosophila larval brain.

Evaluation and comparison of two immunoturbidimetric assays for the heterologous determination of porcine serum C-reactive protein.

The objective was first to evaluate the performance (intra- and inter-assay imprecision, inaccuracy, detection limit and overlap performance) of two different commercially available human C-reactive protein (CRP) immunoturbidimetric assays (TIA) applied to porcine serum CRP; and secondly to investigate inter-laboratory discrepancies and the influence of calibration materials when comparing results. The intra-laboratory performance seemed acceptable for clinical purposes for both assays with excellent overlap performance, acceptable detection limits, no significant inaccuracies and low imprecision. Although a significant discrepancy in the measured CRP levels was observed when comparing results, the methods agreed significantly on diagnostic classification, suggesting a low clinical significance.

Analytical and clinical validation of a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TR-IFMA) for canine C-reactive protein in serum.

A time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TR-IFMA) was developed for the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) in canine serum. CRP was isolated from canine acute-phase serum by affinity chromatography on agarose coupled with phosphorylethanolamine. This isolated dog CRP was used as standard to calibrate the assay.

Preliminary studies of serum acute-phase protein concentrations in hematologic and neoplastic diseases of the dog.

Serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins (APPs): haptoglobin (Hp), ceruloplasmin (Cp), serum amyloid A (SAA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined in healthy dogs (n = 15) and dogs with different diseases grouped as acute inflammation (I, n = 12), hematologic neoplasias (HT, including leukemia and lymphoma, n = 16), nonhematologic neoplasias (NHT, including epithelial, mesenchymal, and mixed, n = 20), and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA, n = 8). SAA and CRP were analyzed using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and Hp and Cp were measured using colorimetric methods, all previously validated for use in dogs. Increased concentrations of all APPs were observed in all groups of diseased dogs, but statistical significance only was observed with Hp (I, P < .