Contagious Horror: Infectious Themes in Fiction and Film.

Infectious diseases have been a preeminent part of literature since the earliest human writings. In particular, they have contributed greatly to the genre of horror-written or visual art intended to startle or scare. Horror fiction has emphasized infectious themes from the earliest Babylonian and Hebrew texts.

Kisspeptin Stimulates Growth Hormone Release by Utilizing Neuropeptide Y Pathways and Is Dependent on the Presence of Ghrelin in the Ewe.

Although kisspeptin is the primary stimulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion and therefore the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, recent findings suggest kisspeptin can also regulate additional neuroendocrine processes including release of growth hormone (GH). Here we show that central delivery of kisspeptin causes a robust rise in plasma GH in fasted but not fed sheep. Kisspeptin-induced GH secretion was similar in animals fasted for 24 hours and those fasted for 72 hours, suggesting that the factors involved in kisspeptin-induced GH secretion are responsive to loss of food availability and not the result of severe negative energy balance.

Adeno-Associated Virus Gene Therapy in a Sheep Model of Tay-Sachs Disease.

Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme hexosaminidase A (HexA). TSD also occurs in sheep, the only experimental model of TSD that has clinical signs of disease. The natural history of sheep TSD was characterized using serial neurological evaluations, 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiograms, electrodiagnostics, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.

Leukemia inhibitory factor as a mediator of lipopolysaccharide effects on appetite and selected hormones and metabolites.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has been suggested to function as a potent inhibitor of feed intake in rodents. In sheep, intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in an increase in gene expression for LIF in the arcuate nucleus ( < 0.01).

Reproduction and beyond, kisspeptin in ruminants.

Kisspeptin (Kp) is synthesized in the arcuate nucleus and preoptic area of the hypothalamus and is a regulator of gonadotropin releasing hormone in the hypothalamus. In addition, Kp may regulate additional functions such as increased neuropeptide Y gene expression and reduced proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression in sheep. Other studies have found a role for Kp to release growth hormone (GH), prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) from cattle, rat and monkey pituitary cells.

Evaluation of endocrine and immune responses of steers challenged with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus.

Objective: To evaluate the endocrine and immune responses of steers challenged with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV).

Animals: 12 crossbred beef steers.

Procedures: Steers were randomly assigned to IBRV- (control) or IBRV+ treatment groups.

Hypothalamic integration of nutrient status and reproduction in the sheep.

Nutrient availability is a determinant of reproductive success. It is well known that inadequate nutrition results in reproductive failure due to a number of factors including delay of puberty or anoestrous in post-pubertal animals. The lack of nutrients is detected primarily by changes in circulating nutrient molecules and hormones and communicated directly or indirectly to the hypothalamus and brain stem for integration.

Acute regulation of IGF-I by alterations in post-exercise macronutrients.

This investigation sought to examine the contributions of exercise and nutrient replenishment on in vivo regulation of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis components. Eight college-aged males completed three high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols followed by three post-exercise nutritional protocols: (1) placebo (EX); (2) carbohydrate only (CHO); and (3) essential amino acid/carbohydrate (EAA/CHO). Samples were analyzed for growth hormone (GH), free IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, insulin, hematocrit, hemoglobin, serum leucine, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) proteolytic activity, and presence of IGFBP-3 protease activity.

Triennial Growth Symposium: neural regulation of feed intake: modification by hormones, fasting, and disease.

Appetite is a complex process that results from the integration of multiple signals at the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus receives neural signals; hormonal signals such as leptin, cholecystokinin, and ghrelin; and nutrient signals such as glucose, FFA, AA, and VFA. This effect is processed by a specific sequence of neurotransmitters beginning with the arcuate nucleus and orexigenic cells containing neuropeptide Y or agouti-related protein and anorexigenic cells containing proopiomelanocortin (yielding the neurotransmitter α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone) or cells expressing cocaine amphetamine-related transcript.

Selected hormonal and neurotransmitter mechanisms regulating feed intake in sheep.

Appetite control is a major issue in normal growth and in suboptimal growth performance settings. A number of hormones, in particular leptin, activate or inhibit orexigenic or anorexigenic neurotransmitters within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, where feed intake regulation is integrated. Examples of appetite regulatory neurotransmitters are the stimulatory neurotransmitters neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related protein (AgRP), orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone and the inhibitory neurotransmitter, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).

Interaction of kisspeptin and the somatotropic axis.

Kisspeptin, a regulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, has been hypothesized as an integrator of nutrition and hormones critical to metabolism and the regulation of reproduction. Growth hormone (GH) is necessary for optimal reproduction and recent evidence suggests that its secretion may be influenced by kisspeptin. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the effect of kisspeptin to stimulate GH release is due to an interaction with growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) or somatostatin (SS), or an effect at the hypothalamus.

Contagious rhythm: infectious diseases of 20th century musicians.

Infectious diseases have led to illness and death for many famous musicians, from the classical period to the rock 'n' roll era. By the 20th century, as public health improved and orchestral composers began living more settled lives, infections among American and European musicians became less prominent. By mid-century, however, seminal jazz musicians famously pursued lifestyles characterized by drug and alcohol abuse.

Low doses of estradiol partly inhibit release of GH in sheep without affecting basal levels.

Estradiol increases basal growth hormone (GH) concentrations in sheep and cattle. This study sought to determine the effects of estradiol on GH-releasing hormone (GRH)-stimulated GH release in sheep. Growth hormone secretory characteristics, the GH response to GRH, and steady-state GH mRNA concentrations were determined in castrated male lambs treated with 2 different doses of estradiol 17-beta for a 28-d experimental period.

Comparative aspects of the endotoxin- and cytokine-induced endocrine cascade influencing neuroendocrine control of growth and reproduction in farm animals.

Disease in animals is a well-known inhibitor of growth and reproduction. Earlier studies were initiated to determine the effects of endotoxin on pituitary hormone secretion. These studies found that in sheep, growth hormone (GH) concentration was elevated, whereas insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was inhibited, as was luteinizing hormone (LH).

Interaction of estrogen and progesterone on kisspeptin-10-stimulated luteinizing hormone and growth hormone in ovariectomized cows.

Background/aims: Growth hormone (GH) is necessary for optimal reproductive efficiency and its secretion is influenced by sex steroids. This study was designed to determine whether kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) could stimulate GH and if gonadal steroids enhance the GH response to Kp10 in cows.

Methods And Results: Intravenous injection of Kp10 at 100 or 200 pmol/kg body weight with or without treatment with estradiol cypionate and/or progesterone increased luteinizing hormone (p < 0.

Central role of the melanocortin-4 receptors in appetite regulation after endotoxin.

Melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4R) are key factors in the depression of appetite during disease. This study was designed to determine the role of agouti-related protein (AgRP) in the effect of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) on appetite. Sheep received an intracerebroventricular injection of either saline or AgRP (0.

Critical control points in the impact of the proinflammatory immune response on growth and metabolism.

Intrinsic in the equation for successful animal production is the efficiency of nutrient use for assimilation into useful animal-derived products. However, when young growing animals encounter various stressors that activate the proinflammatory response (PR), the biochemical effects of the resulting cascade of PR mediators [cytokines, prostaglandin and prosta-cyclin derivatives, nitric oxide (NO), superoxide anion (O2(.-)), etc.

Pharmacological analyses of two naturally occurring porcine melanocortin-4 receptor mutations in domestic pigs.

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is critical in regulating mammalian food intake and energy expenditure. Numerous mutations in the MC4R gene have been identified from obese humans. So far two naturally occurring porcine MC4R (pMC4R) mutations, D298N and R236H, have been identified from various strains of pigs and D298N is being utilized as a genetic marker to screen performance traits of pigs.

Molecular cloning and pharmacological characterization of porcine melanocortin-3 receptor.

Mouse gene targeting studies revealed that the melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) affected feeding efficiency and fat storage in mice. The functions of the MC3R in other mammalian species remain to be investigated. We are interested in exploring the functions of the porcine MC3R (pMC3R) in regulating fat storage because of the economical importance of swine industry.

Implementing CAP guidelines: impediments and opportunities.

Context: The implementation of guidelines for treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) has been proposed as a quality improvement and cost-saving strategy, though the effectiveness of several recommendations has yet to be confirmed through clinical trials. We sought to analyze the development and implementation of guidelines at our hospital, and to identify particular successes and impediments.

Evidence Acquisition: Date sources included the Web sites of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the American Thoracic Society.

Caveolae nitration of Janus kinase-2 at the 1007Y-1008Y site: coordinating inflammatory response and metabolic hormone readjustment within the somatotropic axis.

Life-threatening proinflammatory response (PR) induces severe GH resistance. Although low-level PR is much more commonly encountered clinically, relatively few studies have investigated the accompanying change in GH signal transduction progression and, in particular, the impact of low-level PR on Janus kinase (JAK)-2. Using a low-level, in vivo endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] challenge protocol, we demonstrated that the liver tissue content of JAK2 declined 24 h (62%, P < 0.

Long-term feed intake regulation in sheep is mediated by opioid receptors.

These experiments were conducted to determine if 1) syndyphalin-33 (SD33), a mu-opioid receptor ligand, affects feed intake; 2) SD33 effects on feed intake are mediated by actions on opioid receptors; and 3) its activity can counteract the reduction in feed intake associated with administration of bacterial endotoxin. In Exp. 1, 5 mixed-breed, castrate male sheep were housed indoors in individual pens.