Association between Fatty Acid Composition in Hair and Energy Availability during Early Lactation in Simmental and German Holstein Cows.

This study examined (1) if fatty acids in bovine hair are influenced by dietary energy levels and (2) if the relationship between energy availability and fatty acids in hair persists across breeds and farms. Sixty-two and 59 Fleckvieh (Simmental), and 55 German Holstein cows from three farms, respectively, were fed two levels of energy concentration of roughage (6.1 and 6.

Target cell types with stem/progenitor function to isolate for in vitro reconstruction of human bronchiolar epithelia.

Recent advancement in research on stem/progenitor cells of respiratory organs is breathtaking, benefiting from the rapid development of technology to create transgenic mice. There is now a great deal of knowledge capable of direct translation from mice to humans. Nevertheless, one has to be careful, since there may be unexpected pitfalls.

Quality management system and accreditation of the in vivo monitoring laboratory at Karslruhe Institute of Technology.

The in vivo monitoring laboratory (IVM) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), with one whole body counter and three partial-body counters, is an approved lab for individual monitoring according to German regulation. These approved labs are required to prove their competencies by accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2005. In 2007 a quality management system (QMS), which was successfully audited and granted accreditation, was set up at the IVM.

Family satisfaction in the intensive care unit: what makes the difference?

Purpose: To assess family satisfaction in the ICU and to identify parameters for improvement.

Methods: Multicenter study in Swiss ICUs. Families were given a questionnaire covering overall satisfaction, satisfaction with care and satisfaction with information/decision-making.

Pulmonary tumor types induced in Wistar rats of the so-called "19-dust study".

The incidences of primary lung tumor types histologically diagnosed in 28 groups of Wistar rats of the so-called "19-dust study" are described, the total study having been already presented by Pott and Roller (Carcinogenicity study with nineteen granular dusts in rats. Eur J Oncol, 2005; 10: 249-81). Each exposed group was repeatedly instilled intratracheally with a suspension of one type and dose of 13 non-mining dusts differing in at least one of the following properties: chemical composition, density, specific surface area, and mean particle size.

Mosquito coil smoke inhalation toxicity. Part II: subchronic nose-only inhalation study in rats.

This paper addresses the results of a subchronic inhalation study in rats exposed to the smoke of burning mosquito coils manufactured in Indonesia. The objective of the study was a comparative assessment of different mosquito coils, including a blank coil, utilizing the OECD No. 413 testing paradigm, however, with the focus on hazard identification at a single maximum tolerated exposure concentration rather than concentration-response.

Maternal effects and cancer risk in the progeny of mice exposed to X-rays before conception.

To investigate in an animal model whether preconceptual X-ray exposure leads to an altered tumor rate and spectrum in the offspring, a transgeneration carcinogenesis study was carried out. Female mice received X-ray irradiation (2 x 2 Gray) 2 weeks prior to mating with untreated males. After weaning, half of the descendants were exposed for 6 months to the immunomodulating and tumor-promoting compound cyclosporine A (CsA) by diet, the others remained untreated.

Experimental approaches to evaluate respiratory allergy in animal models.

Asthma is defined as a chronic disease of the entire lung and asthma attacks may either be immediate, delayed or dual in onset. Allergic asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the airways and its etiology is multifactorial. It involves the recruitment and activation of many inflammatory and structural cells, all of which release mediators that result in typical pathological changes of asthma.

A modified CULTEX system for the direct exposure of bacteria to inhalable substances.

Increasing attention is being paid to the impact on human health of inhaled gaseous compounds and complex mixtures such as cigarette smoke. The evaluation of the genotoxicity of such materials is mostly based on experiments with model substances or mixtures and condensates in the standard Ames assay. Due to the methodological difficulties of testing air contaminants in their natural gaseous or aerosolised state, there are no generally accepted concepts and techniques for effective exposure of bacteria under such conditions.

PRV-1 mRNA expression discriminates two types of essential thrombocythemia.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a heterogeneous disorder. For example, the growth of erythropoietin-independent erythroid colonies, termed "endogenous erythroid colonies (EECs)", has previously been observed in only 50% of ET patients. We have recently described the overexpression of a hematopoietic receptor, PRV-1 (polycythemia rubra vera-1), in patients with polycythemia vera (PV).

Quantification of PRV-1 mRNA distinguishes polycythemia vera from secondary erythrocytosis.

To date, the diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV) relies on clinical criteria. We have recently described the overexpression of a hematopoietic receptor, polycythemia rubra vera-1 (PRV-1), in patients with PV. Here, we report a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the measurement of PRV-1 mRNA levels.

Inhalation toxicity of propineb. Part II: Results of mechanistic studies in rats.

Previous repeated inhalation exposure studies revealed two independent organotropic effects of inhaled propineb dust: One was restricted to the lung, the other to muscle weakness of hindlimbs. These effects were believed to be causally related to the principle decomposition products of this type of dithiocarbamate in the biological milieu and related to zinc and carbon disulfide. Two mechanistic 1-wk inhalation studies were performed, each focusing on one of these findings.

In vitro genotoxicity assay of sidestream smoke using a human bronchial epithelial cell line.

Genotoxic effects of air contaminants, such as gaseous or particulate compounds, have been difficult to investigate due to inefficient methods for exposing cell cultures directly to these substances. New cultivation and exposure techniques enable treatment of epithelial cells with sample atmospheres with subsequent in vitro assays, as demonstrated by a new system called CULTEX (CULTEX: patent No. DE 19801763; PCT/EP99/00295), which uses a transwell membrane technique for direct exposure of complex mixtures, for example sidestream cigarette smoke, at the air/liquid interface.

The value of historical control data-scientific advantages for pathologists, industry and agencies.

Historical control tumor data are useful in the interpretation of long-term rodent carcinogenicity bioassays, especially to assess the occurrence of rare tumors and marginally increased tumor incidences. The major prerequisites to compare historical control data with studies under evaluation are the validity and consistency of the respective databases. The RITA (Registry of Industrial Toxicology Animal-data) database for historical data of tumors and pre-neoplastic lesions collects data according to highly standardized procedures including tissue sampling and trimming, histopathology according to internationally harmonized nomenclature and diagnostic criteria, and peer review.

The north american control animal database: a resource based on standardized nomenclature and diagnostic criteria.

Historical control data have been shown to be valuable in the interpretation and evaluation of results from rodent carcinogenicity studies. Standardization of terminology and histopathology procedures is a prerequisite for meaningful comparison of control data across studies and analysis of potential carcinogenic effects. Standardization is particularly critical for the construction of a database that includes incidence data from different studies evaluated by pathologists in different laboratories.

Respiratory hypersensitivity in guinea pigs sensitized to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI): comparison of results obtained with the monomer and homopolymers of HDI.

This study used guinea pigs that were sensitized to the biuret or isocyanurate type homopolymers of 1,6 hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Induction was either by intradermal injection or repeated inhalation exposures. For comparison, groups of guinea pigs were sensitized to monomeric HDI.

Inhalation toxicity of 4-ethoxyaniline (p-phenetidine): critical analysis of results of subacute inhalation exposure studies in rats.

This article addresses results from a single 4-h and repeated 1- and 4-wk inhalation exposure studies in Wistar rats with vapor and/or aerosol atmospheres of 4-ethoxyaniline (p-phenetidine). Groups of 10 rats/sex were exposed nose-only to mean analytical concentrations of 11.1, 86.

Assessment of the morphology and significance of the lymph nodal and hepatic lesions produced in rats by the feeding of certain mineral oils and waxes. Proceedings of a pathology workshop held at the Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Aerosol Research Hannover, Germany, May 7-9, 2001.

A Panel of medical and veterinary pathologists reviewed published and unpublished reports dealing with studies of various white mineral oils and waxes in F344 and Sprague-Dawley rats. They also had available and studied histologic slides from both subchronic and chronic studies of certain mineral hydrocarbons (90-day oral study of low melting point wax (LMPW) in female Fischer 344 and Sprague-Dawley rats; 90-day studies of P15H* and P70H white oil and high melting point wax (HMPW) in male and female F344 rats and 24 month study of P70H white oil in male and female F344 rats. The Panel also reviewed mineral oil-induced alterations in tissues of human patients (liver, hepatic lymph node and spleen).

Age-related incidence of spontaneous non-neoplastic lesions in a colony of Han:AURA hamsters.

In toxicologic testing or experimental studies using animals, an adequate knowledge of spontaneously occurring lesions is required. 144 male and 184 female untreated Syrian golden hamsters (strain Han:AURA) were kept for life under standard laboratory conditions and an investigation of non-neoplastic lesions in relationship to the lifespan was performed. The average lifespan of the males was 106 weeks and that of the female hamsters 97 weeks.

Inhalation toxicity of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate homopolymers (HDI-IC and HDI-BT): results of subacute and subchronic repeated inhalation exposure studies.

This article addresses results of two 13-wk inhalation toxicity studies in Wistar rats with aerosolized 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) homopolymers using either the isocyanurate (HDI-IC) type or biuret (HDI-BT) type. Groups of 10 rats/sex/level were exposed nose-only to breathing zone concentrations of 0.5, 3.

Spectrum and age-related incidence of spontaneous tumours in a colony of Han:AURA hamsters.

One-hundred-and-forty-four male and 184 female untreated Syrian golden hamsters (strain Han:AURA) were kept for life under standard laboratory conditions. They were examined with regard to spontaneously occurring tumours in relation to their survival periods. The mean survival rate of the males was 106 +/- 26 weeks and that of the females 97 +/- 20 weeks.

Expression of cyclin D1 and p53 and its correlation with proliferative activity in the spectrum of esophageal carcinomas induced after duodenal content reflux and 2,6-dimethylnitrosomorpholine administration in rats.

Alterations in expression of the p53 and cyclin D1 genes have been implicated in the development of esophageal carcinomas in both humans and animal models. We hypothesize that altered expression of cyclin D1 and p53 may be involved in the sequential development of esophageal carcinomas with glandular differentiation induced by the carcinogen, 2,6-dimethylnitrosomorpholine (DMNM) in rats with duodenal content reflux esophagitis. In the present study Sprague-Dawley rats were given DMNM 15 days after performing an esophago-jejunostomy in order to induce chronic duodenal content reflux esophagitis.