Histamine stimulates the proliferation of small and large cholangiocytes by activation of both IP3/Ca2+ and cAMP-dependent signaling mechanisms.

Although large cholangiocytes exert their functions by activation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), Ca(2+)-dependent signaling regulates the function of small cholangiocytes. Histamine interacts with four receptors, H1-H4HRs. H1HR acts by Gαq activating IP(3)/Ca(2+), whereas H2HR activates Gα(s) stimulating cAMP.

Detection of Babesia gibsoni and the canine small Babesia 'Spanish isolate' in blood samples obtained from dogs confiscated from dogfighting operations.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs that were confiscated from dogfighting operations.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Animals: 157 pit bull-type dogs that were confiscated as part of dogfighting prosecution cases in Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington and 218 randomly selected animal shelter dogs with no known history of dogfighting.

Transmission dynamics of simian T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (STLV1) in a baboon breeding colony: predominance of female-to-female transmission.

We investigated the prevalence, distribution, and transmission of simian T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (STLV1) in a baboon breeding colony over a 4-y period. We used polymerase chain reaction amplification of the proviral tax gene to assess the infection status of 272 animals housed in 4 separate corrals. Sequencing the proviral envelope gene from individual baboons detected several molecular subtypes (genotypes) of STLV1.