Spx is a global effector impacting stress tolerance and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus.

In Bacillus subtilis, Spx was recently characterized as a novel type of global regulator whose activity is regulated by the redox status of the cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that inactivation of Spx in the important pathogen Staphylococcus aureus renders the cells hypersensitive to a wide range of stress conditions including high and low temperature, high osmolarity, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, growth was restricted under nonstress conditions.

Leg health and performance of broiler chickens reared in different light environments.

1. The effects of light source and intensity on leg health and performance of female ROSS 308 broiler chickens were investigated in a 2 x 2 experimental design (8 groups of 275 chicks) of two light sources (Osram biolux and Osram warm-white) and two light intensities (5 and 100 clux, adjusted to fowl-perceived illuminance). 2.

Localization of thymosin beta10 in breast cancer cells: relationship to actin cytoskeletal remodeling and cell motility.

Beta-thymosins are polypeptides involved in the regulation of actin polymerization and thymosin beta10 and beta4 have been implicated in sequestration of monomeric (G-) actin. Additionally, experimental overexpression of thymosin beta10 has been found to result in increases in F-actin bundles as well as in cell motility and spreading. We have studied the distribution of endogenously expressed thymosin beta10 in cultured human breast cancer cell lines.

Pectin degrading enzymes in yeasts involved in fermentation of Coffea arabica in East Africa.

The ability of six strains of Pichia anomala, four strains of Pichia kluyveri and two strains of Hanseniaspora uvarum predominant during coffee processing to produce polygalacturonase (PG), pectin esterase (PE) and pectin lyase (PL) in yeast polygalacturonic acid medium (YPA) and in coffee broth (CB) was studied. For comparison, a reference strain of Kluyveromyces marxianus CCT 3172 isolated from cocoa and reported to produce high amount of PG was included. Initial screening of PG activity using YPA medium showed that K.

Nutrition in end stage liver disease.

This chapter will focus on studies within the last 5 years of nutrition in end stage liver disease, but earlier studies illustrating the present state of affairs will also be mentioned. The first part will focus on descriptive epidemiological studies that help to set the scene for the intervention studies, which will be described in the second part. Each part will discuss liver cirrhosis, acute liver failure and liver transplantation separately.

Age-related changes in focal adhesions lead to altered cell behavior in tendon fibroblasts.

During aging the increase in collagen cross-linking and total amount of collagen in tendon leads to a decline in both its flexibility and its ability to heal after injury. Fibroblasts are responsible for the synthesis of the macromolecules that constitute tendonous tissue. The ability of fibroblasts to maintain tissue homeostasis is compromised with increasing age underlying many of the age-related pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

Molecular characterization of the porcine surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein C gene.

The surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein C (SFTPC) is a peptide secreted by the alveolar type II pneumocytes of the lung. We have characterized the porcine SFTPC gene at genomic, transcriptional, and protein levels. The porcine SFTPC is a single-copy gene on pig chromosome 14.

Soya isoflavone-enriched cereal bars affect markers of endothelial function in postmenopausal women.

Soya isoflavones are thought to be cardioprotective due to their structural similarity to oestrogen. In order to investigate the effect of soya isoflavones on markers of endothelial function we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study with thirty healthy postmenopausal women. The women consumed cereal bars, with or without soya isoflavones (50 mg/d), for 8 weeks, separated by an 8-week washout period.

Formula-feeding reduces lactose digestive capacity in neonatal pigs.

The intestine of newborn pigs develops rapidly during the first days postpartum. We investigated if feeding milk replacer (infant formula) as an alternative to colostrum has compromising effects on nutrient digestive function in the neonatal period. Nineteen piglets born at term were assigned to one of four treatments: (1) newborn controls; (2) natural suckling for 24 h; (3) tube-fed formula for 24 h; (4) tube-fed porcine colostrum for 24 h.

Quantification of surgical blood loss.

Objective: To compare gravimetric and colorimetric methods of quantifying surgical blood loss, and to determine if there is a correlation between preoperative hemostatic tests (buccal mucosa bleeding time [BMBT] and intraoperative blood loss).

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Animals: Dogs (n=15) admitted for cutaneous tumor excision, orthopedic procedure, or exploratory laparotomy.

Secular change in adult stature has come to a halt in northern Europe and Italy.

Aim: To investigate whether the increase in adult stature in European countries is continuing.

Methods: The secular trend in growth after 1990 for various European countries was assessed by national conscript data.

Results: In Scandinavia and the Netherlands, the height has reached a plateau at 179-181 cm, and in Italy a plateau at 174 cm.

Thousands of corresponding human and mouse genomic regions unalignable in primary sequence contain common RNA structure.

Human and mouse genome sequences contain roughly 100,000 regions that are unalignable in primary sequence and neighbor corresponding alignable regions between both organisms. These pairs are generally assumed to be nonconserved, although the level of structural conservation between these has never been investigated. Owing to the limitations in computational methods, comparative genomics has been lacking the ability to compare such nonconserved sequence regions for conserved structural RNA elements.

A time course study of immunological responses in Trichuris suis infected pigs demonstrates induction of a local type 2 response associated with worm burden.

In order to investigate immunological changes over time in pigs infected with Trichuris suis, we inoculated 40 pigs with 5000 infective T. suis eggs and left 40 pigs as uninfected controls. Equal numbers of pigs from both groups were sacrificed every other week from 1 to 11 weeks p.

Oesophagostomum dentatum and Trichuris suis infections in pigs born and raised on contaminated paddocks.

Transmission of Oesophagostomum dentatum and Trichuris suis was studied in outdoor reared pigs. Six farrowing paddocks were naturally contaminated in May to mid-June 2001 by experimentally infected seeder pigs. In early July 1 sow farrowed on each paddock and starting at week 3 post-partum (p.

Ascaris suum infections in pigs born and raised on contaminated paddocks.

The transmission of Ascaris suum was studied in outdoor reared pigs. From May to June 2001, 6 farrowing paddocks were naturally contaminated with A. suum using experimentally infected seeder pigs.

Comparison of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic findings with histologic features of benign and malignant mammary tumors in dogs.

Objective: To compare and correlate B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonographic characteristics with the histologic findings of benign and malignant mammary tumors in dogs.

Study Population: 49 mammary tumors in 26 dogs.

Procedures: Before excision, tumors were evaluated via B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography to assess size, echogenicity, echopattern, acoustic transmission, invasiveness, and vascularity.

Comparison of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic findings with histologic features of benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes in dogs.

Objective: To compare and correlate B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonographic characteristics with histopathologic findings of benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes in dogs.

Study Population: 50 superficial lymph nodes that were normal, abnormally large on physical examination, or represented regional lymph nodes draining an area of suspected primary malignancy in 30 dogs.

Procedures: Before excision, lymph nodes were evaluated via B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography to assess size, echogenicity, presence of a hilus, acoustic transmission, and vascular flow.

Fatal enterocolitis in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) caused by Clostridium difficile.

Two cases of fatal enteritis caused by Clostridium difficile in captive Asian elephants are reported from an outbreak affecting five females in the same zoo. Post mortem examination including histopathology demonstrated fibrinonecrotic enterocolitis. C.

Serum fructosamine concentrations in 59 dogs naturally Infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum.

Retrospectively, 89 cases of dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum were examined. Fifty-nine of these 89 dogs fulfilled the criteria of not being dually infected with Crenosoma vulpis as well as having a full biochemistry profile including serum fructosamine available. The mean serum fructosamine value of the 59 dogs was 236 micromol/l (reference value 258-348 micromol/l) and significantly lower than the serum fructosamine level of 314 micromol/l in a control group of 42 clinically healthy dogs.

Control of Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniosis.

Cysticercosis is emerging as a serious public health and agricultural problem in many poorer countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, this zoonotic disease forms larval cysts in humans and pigs that can lead to epilepsy and death in humans, reduces the market value of pigs and makes pork unsafe to eat. It occurs where pigs range freely, sanitation is poor, and meat inspection is absent or inadequate, and is thus strongly associated with poverty and smallholder farming.

Genes homologous to glycopeptide resistance vanA are widespread in soil microbial communities.

The occurrence of d-Ala : d-Lac ligase genes homologous to glycopeptide resistance vanA was studied in samples of agricultural (n=9) and garden (n=3) soil by culture-independent methods. Cloning and sequencing of nested degenerate PCR products obtained from soil DNA revealed the occurrence of d-Ala : d-Ala ligase genes unrelated to vanA. In order to enhance detection of vanA-homologous genes, a third PCR step was added using primers targeting vanA in soil Paenibacillus.