Effect of repeated regrouping and relocation on the physiological, immunological, and hematological variables and performance of steers.

To investigate the effect of repeated regrouping and repenning (R&R) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune function, blood biochemical and hematological variables, and ADG, 72 Holstein-Friesian (14-mo-old; 441 +/- 3.2 kg) steers were assigned to either the control (C; n = 30) or regrouped (R; n = 42) treatments and housed six per pen in 12 pens. The R steers were exposed to six R&R over 84 d.

Epidermal impermeable barriers in mouse and fly.

Despite significant structural differences, the surface epithelia of flies and mice exhibit remarkable functional parallels. Genetic studies in both organisms have identified highly conserved pathways regulating cell movement and polarity, wound healing, innate immunity and appendage formation. More recently, it has emerged that the establishment and repair of the barrier function of the integument are also achieved by common mechanisms involving genes responsible both for cross-linking surface proteins and for assembly of cellular tight junctions.

A homolog of Drosophila grainy head is essential for epidermal integrity in mice.

The Drosophila cuticle is essential for maintaining the surface barrier defenses of the fly. Integral to cuticle resilience is the transcription factor grainy head, which regulates production of the enzyme required for covalent cross-linking of the cuticular structural components. We report that formation and maintenance of the epidermal barrier in mice are dependent on a mammalian homolog of grainy head, Grainy head-like 3.

The epidermis of grhl3-null mice displays altered lipid processing and cellular hyperproliferation.

The presence of an impermeable surface barrier is an essential homeostatic mechanism in almost all living organisms. We have recently described a novel gene that is critical for the developmental instruction and repair of the integument in mammals. This gene, Grainy head-like 3 (Grhl3) is a member of a large family of transcription factors that are homologs of the Drosophila developmental gene grainy head (grh).

Multi-colored simplified asthma guideline reminder: why pragmatic asthma tools are needed in real-world practice.

Asthma is a chronic disease that is highly prevalent around the world with increasing societal and economic burden. National Asthma Educational and Preventive Program (NAEPP) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) are evidence-based documents designed to help clinicians make appropriate decisions for their patients and to reduce undesirable variation in the care of asthmatic patients. It is a generally accepted fact that asthma specialists achieved better and improved asthma outcomes for their patients when compared with primary care physicians (PCPs).

Increased efflux of glutathione conjugate in acutely diabetic cardiomyocytes.

In diabetes, cell death and resultant cardiomyopathy have been linked to oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidants like glutathione (GSH). Although the de novo synthesis and recycling of GSH have been extensively studied in the chronically diabetic heart, their contribution in modulating cardiac oxidative stress in acute diabetes has been largely ignored. Additionally, the possible contribution of cellular efflux in regulating GSH levels during diabetes is unknown.

Seroepidemiology of neutralizing antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus in Singapore: continued transmission despite abolishment of pig farming?

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) transmission in Singapore appeared to have ceased after pig farming in Singapore was phased out from the early 1980s. However, the recent detection of neutralizing antibodies to JEV in a population of wild boars in an offshore island, as well as the notification of two human cases of JE in Singapore in 2001, prompted us to reconsider the presence and hence the public health threat of JEV in Singapore. We report here a serological study of animals, birds and humans for neutralizing antibodies to JEV.

Noncanonical function of glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase: gene-specific silencing of translation.

Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (ARS) catalyze the ligation of amino acids to cognate tRNAs. Chordate ARSs have evolved distinctive features absent from ancestral forms, including compartmentalization in a multisynthetase complex (MSC), noncatalytic peptide appendages, and ancillary functions unrelated to aminoacylation. Here, we show that glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (GluProRS), a bifunctional ARS of the MSC, has a regulated, noncanonical activity that blocks synthesis of a specific protein.

Technical note: effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone on adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol in steers.

The objective of this study was to determine an appropriate exogenous dose of bovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (bCRH) to stimulate the physiological effects of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in steers as a method to test the sensitivity of the pituitary and adrenal gland. Twenty 14-mo-old Holstein-Friesian steers were blocked by weight (443.7+/-2.

Methods used for reconstruction in aggressive bone tumours: an early experience.

Improvements in the overall treatment of patients with aggressive, large tumours involving the bone have made it possible to preserve and salvage limbs instead of amputating them. Each patient is unique in his clinical presentation and social circumstance. The different reconstructive options available allow us to choose the most appropriate method suited to the particular patient and with minimal delay, even when resources are limited.

Effect of cortisol infusion patterns and castration on metabolic and immunological indices of stress response in cattle.

This study tested the hypotheses that: (1) either acute stress induced by Burdizzo castration, or cortisol infusion would modulate plasma glucose, insulin and growth hormone (GH) concentrations; and (2) immune modulation induced by cortisol would be dependent on the pattern, intensity and duration of circulating cortisol concentrations. Fifty 9.2-month-old Holstein x Friesian bulls (232 +/- 2.

Inositol- and folate-resistant neural tube defects in mice lacking the epithelial-specific factor Grhl-3.

The neural tube defects (NTDs) spina bifida and anencephaly are widely prevalent severe birth defects. The mouse mutant curly tail (ct/ct) has served as a model of NTDs for 50 years, even though the responsible genetic defect remained unrecognized. Here we show by gene targeting, mapping and genetic complementation studies that a mouse homolog of the Drosophila grainyhead (grh) gene, grainyhead-like-3 (Grhl3), is a compelling candidate for the gene underlying the curly tail phenotype.

Effect of ketoprofen, lidocaine local anesthesia, and combined xylazine and lidocaine caudal epidural anesthesia during castration of beef cattle on stress responses, immunity, growth, and behavior.

To determine the effects of burdizzo castration alone or in combination with ketoprofen (K), local anesthesia (LA), or caudal epidural anesthesia (EPI) on plasma cortisol, acute-phase proteins, interferon-gamma production, growth, and behavior of beef cattle, 50 Holstein x Friesian bulls (13 mo old, 307 +/- 5.3 kg) were assigned to (n = 10/treatment): 1) control (handled; C); 2) burdizzo castration (B); 3) B following K (3 mg/ kg of BW i.v.

Effect of repeated ketoprofen administration during surgical castration of bulls on cortisol, immunological function, feed intake, growth, and behavior.

To determine the effect of repeated ketoprofen (K) administration to surgically castrated bulls on cortisol, acute-phase proteins, immune function, feed intake, growth and behavior, 50 Holstein x Friesian bulls (11 mo old; 300 +/- 3.3 kg) were assigned to one of five treatments: 1) untreated control (C); 2) surgical castration at 0 min (S); 3) S following an i.v.

The benefit of preterm birth at tertiary care centers is related to gestational age.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between gestational age and outcomes of outborn versus inborn preterm infants.

Study Design: Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine gestational age-specific, risk-adjusted outcomes of 2962 singleton infants who were born at <32 weeks of gestation who were admitted to 17 Canadian neonatal intensive care units from 1996 through 1997.

Results: The risk-adjusted incidence was significantly (P <.

The identification and characterization of human Sister-of-Mammalian Grainyhead (SOM) expands the grainyhead-like family of developmental transcription factors.

The Drosophila gene grainyhead is the founding member of a large family of genes encoding developmental transcription factors that are highly conserved from fly to human. The family consists of two main branches, with grainyhead as the ancestral gene for one branch and the recently cloned Drosophila CP2 as the ancestral gene for the other. We now extend this family with the identification of another novel mammalian member, Sister-of-Mammalian Grainyhead (SOM), which is phylogenetically aligned with grainyhead.

The young and the clueless.

It's natural to promote your best and brightest, especially when you think they may leave for greener pastures if you don't continually offer them new challenges and rewards. But promoting smart, ambitious young managers too quickly often robs them of the chance to develop the emotional competencies that come with time and experience--competencies like the ability to negotiate with peers, regulate emotions in times of crisis, and win support for change. Indeed, at some point in a manager's career--usually at the vice president level--raw talent and ambition become less important than the ability to influence and persuade, and that's the point at which the emotionally immature manager will lose his effectiveness.

Multicolored simplified asthma guideline reminder (MSAGR) for better adherence to national/global asthma guidelines.

Background: Clinicians in general have not widely and consistently used asthma guidelines in their practices around the world. This study identifies reasons for the poor adherence to asthma guidelines by primary care physicians (PCPs), and simultaneously introduces multicolored simplified asthma guideline reminder (MSAGR) as a practical tool to enhance adherence to asthma guidelines.

Methods: Sixty-nine PCPs were given a simple, one-page, fill-in-the-blank questionnaire on the classification of asthma severity as defined in National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines, using patients' symptoms, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)/forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) value, PEFR variability, and step therapy based on asthma severity.

Mammalian dispersal at the Paleocene/Eocene boundary.

A profound faunal reorganization occurred near the Paleocene/Eocene boundary, when several groups of mammals abruptly appeared on the Holarctic continents. To test the hypothesis that this event featured the dispersal of groups from Asia to North America and Europe, we used isotope stratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and quantitative biochronology to constrain the relative age of important Asian faunas. The extinct family Hyaenodontidae appeared in Asia before it did so in North America, and the modern orders Primates, Artiodactyla, and Perissodactyla first appeared in Asia at or before the Paleocene/Eocene boundary.

Development of a simplified assay for the detection of neutralizing antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus.

Japanese encephalitis virus is a common cause of viral encephalitis in Asia with an estimated 45,000 cases annually. It causes significant morbidity and mortality. It is transmitted primarily by Culex mosquitoes between birds and animals, while man is thought to be an accidental, dead-end host.

Reduced memory B-cell populations in boys with B-cell dysfunction after bone marrow transplantation for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) is a lethal disease resulting in death in infancy. In many instances, haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (BMT) offers reconstitution of T-cell immunity alone, with residual hypogammaglobulinaemia. The exact nature of B-cell dysfunction in these patients is unclear, although differentiation arrest of the B cells is a potential explanation.

Erythroblasts are a source of angiogenic factors.

In adult bone marrow, mature erythroblasts are produced within structures called erythroblastic islands and then cross the endothelial barrier to reach circulation. Erythroblastic islands are composed of a central macrophage surrounded by maturing erythroblasts. In this study, it is shown that erythroid cells, but not the other mature hematopoietic cells, coexpress 2 angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and placenta growth factor (PlGF).

Acute bereavement care in the emergency department: does the professional-supported volunteers model work?

The aims of our study were to study the early impact of bereavement and to evaluate the effectiveness of the bereavement care given by our multidisciplinary team to close relatives of a sudden death, measured by the intensity of grief reaction (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief). The study sample consisted of close relatives of patients certified dead at the accident and emergency department (AED) between March 1996 and February 1997. The relatives received immediate care at the AED and were supported continually by the members of the bereavement care team.

Identification of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency by mutation analysis of blood and hair roots.

Severe combined immunodeficiency is a heterogenous syndrome of varied genetic origins of which the X-linked type is the commonest (XSCID). The most sensitive method for diagnosis of XSCID in the absence of X-linked inheritance pattern is by mutation analysis. In this report we have performed mutation analysis in 13 unrelated boys transplanted (BMT) for SCID without a known cause to determine the frequency of XSCID.