Survival of a microbial inoculant in soil after recurrent inoculations.

Microbial inoculants are attracting growing interest in agriculture, but their efficacy remains unreliable in relation to their poor survival, partly due to the competition with the soil resident community. We hypothesised that recurrent inoculation could gradually alleviate this competition and improve the survival of the inoculant while increasing its impact on the resident bacterial community. We tested the effectiveness of such strategy with four inoculation sequences of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain B177 in soil microcosms with increasing number and frequency of inoculation, compared to a non-inoculated control. Each sequence was carried out at two inoculation densities (106 and 108 cfu.g soil-1). The four-inoculation sequence induced a higher abundance of P. fluorescens, 2 weeks after the last inoculation. No impact of inoculation sequences was observed on the resident community diversity and composition. Differential abundance analysis identified only 28 out of 576 dominants OTUs affected by the high-density inoculum, whatever the inoculation sequence. Recurrent inoculations induced a strong accumulation of nitrate, not explained by the abundance of nitrifying or nitrate-reducing microorganisms. In summary, inoculant density rather than inoculation pattern matters for inoculation effect on the resident bacterial communities, while recurrent inoculation allowed to slightly enhance the survival of the inoculant and strongly increased soil nitrate content.

Design of a degenerate primer pair to target a bacterial functional community: The hppd bacterial gene coding for the enzyme targeted by herbicides, a study case.

The present work aimed to design a degenerate primer pair to target a large part of the hppd soil bacterial community, possibly affected by herbicides. We validated these primers by qPCR and high-throughput sequencing analysis of soil samples.

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of cartilage degeneration using full-field optical coherence tomography ex vivo.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate cartilage degeneration using the qualitative evaluation of histology sections as the reference. DESIGN: Thirty-three human knee cartilage samples of variable degeneration were included in the study. A closely matching histology and FFOCT image was acquired for each sample. The cartilage degeneration was qualitatively evaluated by assigning a grade to each histology and FFOCT image. The relevance of the performed grading was assessed by calculating the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility and calculating the concordance between the histology and FFOCT grades. A near-automatic algorithm was developed to quantitatively characterize the cartilage surface in each image. The correlation between the quantitative results and the reference qualitative histology was calculated. RESULTS: An almost perfect agreement was achieved for both the intra- and inter-reproducibility of the histology and FFOCT qualitative grading (κ ≥ 0.91). A high and statistically significant level of agreement was measured between the histology and FFOCT grades (W = 0.95, P < 0.05). Strong and statistically significant correlations were measured between the quantitative results and the reference qualitative histology grades (ρ ≥ 0.75, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that FFOCT is an alternative approach to conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) that is as well adapted for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of human cartilage as the reference gold standard - histology. This study constitutes the first promising results towards developing a new diagnostic tool in the field of osteoarthritis.

Evaluation of the clinical benefit of an electromagnetic navigation system for CT-guided interventional radiology procedures in the thoraco-abdominal region compared with conventional CT guidance (CTNAV II): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Interventional radiology includes a range of minimally invasive image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that have become routine clinical practice. Each procedure involves a percutaneous needle insertion, often guided using computed tomography (CT) because of its availability and usability. However, procedures remain complicated, in particular when an obstacle must be avoided, meaning that an oblique trajectory is required. Navigation systems track the operator's instruments, meaning the position and progression of the instruments are visualised in real time on the patient's images. A novel electromagnetic navigation system for CT-guided interventional procedures (IMACTIS-CT®) has been developed, and a previous clinical trial demonstrated improved needle placement accuracy in navigation-assisted procedures. In the present trial, we are evaluating the clinical benefit of the navigation system during the needle insertion step of CT-guided procedures in the thoraco-abdominal region. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is designed as an open, multicentre, prospective, randomised, controlled interventional clinical trial and is structured as a standard two-arm, parallel-design, individually randomised trial. A maximum of 500 patients will be enrolled. In the experimental arm (navigation system), the procedures are carried out using navigation assistance, and in the active comparator arm (CT), the procedures are carried out with conventional CT guidance. The randomisation is stratified by centre and by the expected difficulty of the procedure. The primary outcome of the trial is a combined criterion to assess the safety (number of serious adverse events), efficacy (number of targets reached) and performance (number of control scans acquired) of navigation-assisted, CT-guided procedures as evaluated by a blinded radiologist and confirmed by an expert committee in case of discordance. The secondary outcomes are (1) the duration of the procedure, (2) the satisfaction of the operator and (3) the irradiation dose delivered, with (4) subgroup analysis according to the expected difficulty of the procedure, as well as an evaluation of (5) the usability of the device. DISCUSSION: This trial addresses the lack of published high-level evidence studies in which navigation-assisted CT-guided interventional procedures are evaluated. This trial is important because it addresses the problems associated with conventional CT guidance and is particularly relevant because the number of interventional radiology procedures carried out in routine clinical practice is increasing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01896219 . Registered on 5 July 2013.

Inter-group violence among early Holocene hunter-gatherers of West Turkana, Kenya.

The nature of inter-group relations among prehistoric hunter-gatherers remains disputed, with arguments in favour and against the existence of warfare before the development of sedentary societies. Here we report on a case of inter-group violence towards a group of hunter-gatherers from Nataruk, west of Lake Turkana, which during the late Pleistocene/early Holocene period extended about 30 km beyond its present-day shore. Ten of the twelve articulated skeletons found at Nataruk show evidence of having died violently at the edge of a lagoon, into which some of the bodies fell. The remains from Nataruk are unique, preserved by the particular conditions of the lagoon with no evidence of deliberate burial. They offer a rare glimpse into the life and death of past foraging people, and evidence that warfare was part of the repertoire of inter-group relations among prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

A genome-wide association meta-analysis of plasma Aß peptides concentrations in the elderly.

Amyloid beta (Aß) peptides are the major components of senile plaques, one of the main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, Aß peptides' functions are not fully understood and seem to be highly pleiotropic. We hypothesized that plasma Aß peptides concentrations could be a suitable endophenotype for a genome-wide association study (GWAS) designed to (i) identify novel genetic factors involved in amyloid precursor protein metabolism and (ii) highlight relevant Aß-related physiological and pathophysiological processes. Hence, we performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis of four studies totaling 3 528 healthy individuals of European descent and for whom plasma Aß1-40 and Aß1-42 peptides levels had been quantified. Although we did not observe any genome-wide significant locus, we identified 18 suggestive loci (P<1 × 10(-)(5)). Enrichment-pathway analyses revealed canonical pathways mainly involved in neuronal functions, for example, axonal guidance signaling. We also assessed the biological impact of the gene most strongly associated with plasma Aß1-42 levels (cortexin 3, CTXN3) on APP metabolism in vitro and found that the gene protein was able to modulate Aß1-42 secretion. In conclusion, our study results suggest that plasma Aß peptides levels are valid endophenotypes in GWASs and can be used to characterize the metabolism and functions of APP and its metabolites.

Increased expression of BIN1 mediates Alzheimer genetic risk by modulating tau pathology.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a region upstream the BIN1 gene as the most important genetic susceptibility locus in Alzheimer's disease (AD) after APOE. We report that BIN1 transcript levels were increased in AD brains and identified a novel 3 bp insertion allele ∼28 kb upstream of BIN1, which increased (i) transcriptional activity in vitro, (ii) BIN1 expression levels in human brain and (iii) AD risk in three independent case-control cohorts (Meta-analysed Odds ratio of 1.20 (1.14-1.26) (P=3.8 × 10(-11))). Interestingly, decreased expression of the Drosophila BIN1 ortholog Amph suppressed Tau-mediated neurotoxicity in three different assays. Accordingly, Tau and BIN1 colocalized and interacted in human neuroblastoma cells and in mouse brain. Finally, the 3 bp insertion was associated with Tau but not Amyloid loads in AD brains. We propose that BIN1 mediates AD risk by modulating Tau pathology.

Endocrine response of gilts to various common stressors: a comparison of indicators and methods of analysis.

The first aim of the present study was to determine whether various common events encountered by pigs in commercial farms or experimental units induce activation of the sympathetic and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes. The second aim was to compare the efficiency of various indicators and methods of analysis to detect the occurrence of a stress reaction. Responses to two blood sampling methods, immobilization by snaring, brief electric shocks, loud noise, ear tagging, tattooing, biopsy, pen relocation or delayed feeding time have been evaluated. Series of blood and saliva samplings (from 10 min before to 120 min after stressor application) were collected for each stressor on a total of 8 catheterized sows. Plasma glucose, lactate, cortisol and ACTH levels as well as salivary cortisol were measured. Acute increases of cortisol or ACTH (at least at time points +5 or +15 min) were observed for intense noise, electric shocks, ear tagging, tattooing, biopsy, cava blood sampling, snaring and pen relocation. Snaring, relocation and vena cava blood sampling generated longer stress responses whereas delayed meal and tail blood sampling had no influence. Plasma lactate was also significantly increased in several time-points after stressor application contrarily to plasma glucose. Comparison of successive time points with the starting basal level and comparison with the control group were more sensitive methods to detect a stress response to moderate stressors like electric shocks and tattooing, than comparing the area under the curve. These data confirmed that salivary cortisol is a good indicator to measure the HPA response to a stressor, provided that post-treatment levels can be compared with pre-treatment levels.

Effects of castration, tooth resection, or tail docking on plasma metabolites and stress hormones in young pigs.

Changes in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system or in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis have been extensively used to evaluate pain induced by castration or tail docking in numerous species. Such data are missing in pigs. Therefore, three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of castration, tail docking, or tooth resection on stress hormones. Glucose and lactate also were measured because catecholamines stimulate mobilization of glycogen, which results in glucose and lactate release. In Exp.1, 18 male pigs from seven litters (two or three pigs per litter) were catheterized surgically into one jugular vein, under general anesthesia, at 5 or 6 d of age. Two days later, they were submitted either to bilateral castration, control handling, or no handling (n = 6 per group). Blood samples were collected before (- 15 and -2 min) and after (5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 180 min) the experimental treatment. In Exp. 2, 27 female pigs from 12 litters (one to four pigs per litter) were submitted either to tooth clipping with pliers, tooth resection with a grinder apparatus, control handling, or no handling (n = 6 or 7 per group) at 1 d of age. In Exp. 3, 17 female pigs from nine litters (one to three pigs per litter) were submitted to one of the following treatments: 1) tail docking with an electric-heated scissor docking iron, 2) control handling, and 3) no handling (n = 5 or 6 per group) at 1 d of age. Castration induced significant (P < 0.05) increases in adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH; from 5 to 60 min), cortisol (from 15 to 90 min), and lactate (from 5 to 30 min). These variations are indicative of stress and tissue damage following castration. In contrast, neither tail docking nor tooth resection had marked effects on plasma cortisol, ACTH, glucose, and lactate. Measurements of plasma cortisol, lactate, and ACTH could be useful for validating treatments designed to relieve the distress reaction induced by castration in pigs.

Feed restriction in cyclic gilts: gonadotrophin-independent effects on follicular growth.

Our objective was to determine whether changes in metabolic hormones, induced by feed restriction, can alter follicle distribution in swine ovaries through effects independent of LH pulsatility. In a factorial arrangement, 24 gilts were fed a high or a low level of dietary energy (240 or 80% of maintenance requirements) and given an antagonist of GnRH or saline between days 3 and 12 of the oestrous cycle. Serial blood samples were collected on day 12 and ovaries on day 13. Antagonist treatment, that blocked LH pulsatility, decreased the number of follicles larger than 2 mm and increased the number of follicles smaller than 1 mm. The feed restriction did not alter gonadotrophin secretion, decreased the number of follicles smaller than 1 mm and increased the number of 1 - to 1.9-mm follicles. These findings indicate that feed restriction can alter the growth of small follicles independently of gonadotrophin levels.

Evolution of GH secretion in urine during an in-patient slimming course in obese children.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the change in GH excretion in urine (GH-U) during a slimming course, and if increased, to assess the components of the course related to the increase in obese children. DESIGN: Observational follow-up study of patients admitted for primary obesity to an in-patient slimming course lasting at least 10 weeks. SUBJECTS: 48 complete observations out of 54 consecutive pre-pubertal patients admitted to a paediatric centre for treatment of primary obesity (BMI greater than the 90th percentile of the national reference curves). MEASUREMENTS: GH excretion in urine by immunoradiometric assay, at entry and after 10 weeks, various anthropometric measurements, nutritional intake and departure from the prescribed diet, time spent in physical activity, sleep duration. RESULTS: A mean decrease of 0.90 standard deviations for BMI was accompanied by a 34% increase of GH-U. Time spent in physical activity was the only component of the course found to be related to the magnitude of GH-U increase. CONCLUSION: The results of this observational study confirm that GH-U is increased after a slimming course in children, and suggest that physical activity is a major contributor to the restoration of normal GH-U levels.

Does feed restriction mimic the effects of increased ambient temperature in lactating sows?

We evaluated the effects of high ambient temperature and feed restriction in primiparous lactating sows. Females were exposed to either a constant thermoneutral (20 degrees C) or hot environment (30 degrees C). Lactating sows at 30 degrees C were given free access to feed (30AL; n = 12), and sows at 20 degrees C were restricted according to the feed intake recorded at 30 degrees C (20RF; n = 6) or were given free access to feed (20AL; n = 6). Jugular vein catheters were surgically inserted at 100 +/- 1 d postcoitum. During lactation, 30AL sows exhibited higher rectal temperatures (P < .05) than 20AL and 20RF sows. Feed intake was reduced by 43% for 30AL compared with 20AL sows. Daily body weight loss was lower (P < .05) in the 30AL than in the 20RF group, and mean litter daily gain over the whole lactation was 18% lower in 30AL than in 20AL sows (P < .05) and was intermediate in 20RF females. Plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine [T3] and thyroxine [T4]) were lower at 30 degrees C than at 20 degrees C at d 4 postpartum and d 8 after weaning for T4 (P < .001) and at d 4 postpartum (P < .001) and at d 1 and d 8 after weaning for T3 (P < .01) but were not influenced by feed restriction at 20 degrees C. Mean concentrations of cortisol measured on d 4 and 19 postpartum and on d 1 after weaning were lower in the 30AL than in the 20AL group (P < .05), and neither was different from that in 20RF sows. Ambient temperature and feed intake had no influence on prolactin concentrations on d 19 postpartum and d 1 after weaning. In the 30AL group, concentrations of T3, cortisol, and prolactin measured at d 19 postpartum were positively correlated with the litter gain observed during the 2nd and 3rd wk of lactation (P < .05). The return to estrus was slightly delayed in 20RF compared with 20AL sows (P < .05) and was quite variable in the 30AL group. These results demonstrate that high ambient temperature has negative consequences on litter growth and return to estrus and induces plasma hormonal variations, that cannot be fully mimicked by feed restriction in primiparous sows.

Influence of feed restriction in primiparous lactating sows on body condition and metabolic parameters.

Twenty-four primiparous sows were allocated at farrowing to a high (H: 5.5-6 kg feed/day) or a low (L: 2.5-3 kg/day) level of feeding. Litters (8-10 piglets) were weaned at 28+/-2 days. Serial blood samples were collected 1 day before weaning (W-1), in the hours following weaning (W) and 1 day after (W + 1). L sows lost significantly more weight (38 versus 15 kg) and backfat (5.3 versus 2.3 mm) during lactation than H sows. On day W-1, L sows had higher mean concentrations of NEFA (P < 0.01) and GH (P < 0.1 ) and lower concentrations of insulin and IGF-I (P < 0.05) than H sows. Mean concentrations of glucose and cortisol did not differ between groups of sows. On day W + 1, these parameters were not different between treatments, except IGF-I concentrations which remained lower in L than in H sows (P < 0.05). We conclude that lactating primiparous sows alter secretion of metabolic hormones to favour mobilization of body reserves to support milk production. Low insulin and IGF-I may be involved in reduced ovarian activity at and after weaning, through LH-dependent and independent pathways.

Influence of feed restriction during lactation on gonadotropic hormones and ovarian development in primiparous sows.

Effects of nutritional deficit during lactation on secretion of gonadotropic hormones and ovarian follicular populations around weaning were investigated in 24 primiparous crossbred sows. Sows were allocated to receive close to ad libitum intakes (H) or approximately 50% of this amount (L) during a 28-d lactation. Serial blood samples were collected 1 d before weaning (W-1), in the hours following weaning (W), and 1 d after (W+1). Their ovaries were removed on the day of weaning or 2 d later (W+2) and subjected to macroscopic and histological observations. Mean and basal LH concentrations were not influenced by the level of feeding. Frequency of LH pulses was reduced in L sows (.17, .5, and .5 vs 1.50, 1.17, and .83 pulses/6 h at d W-1, W, and W+1 respectively; P < .05). Mean and basal concentrations of LH were influenced by the day of sampling, being significantly increased within hours following weaning. Mean FSH concentrations were influenced neither by the level of feeding nor by the day of sampling. At weaning, the ovaries from L sows were lighter and had smaller follicles and fewer follicles > or = 4 mm (P < .05). Values of these macroscopic characteristics increased after weaning ( P < .05). At weaning, the percentage of healthy follicles was higher in the first class (< 1 mm) and lower in the second class (1 to 2.99 mm) in L compared to H sows (P < .05). Whatever the day of sampling, IGF-I concentrations in follicular fluid tended to be lower in L than in H sows. These results indicate that feed restriction during lactation inhibits LH pulsatility and ovarian activity.

Growth performance and brain neurotransmitters in pigs as affected by tryptophan, protein, and sex.

The effects of dietary levels of tryptophan (TRP) and protein on voluntary feed intake, growth performance, muscle pH, and brain indoleamine and catecholamine concentrations were studied in an experiment involving 48 crossbred Piétrain x Large White pigs (38 kg initial weight). Equal numbers of females, intact males, and barrows were used and they were given ad libitum access to feed during the 28-d experiment. Four dietary treatments were compared in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with the following levels of analyzed TRP and CP: 1) .12 and .16% TRP, suboptimum and optimum for growth, respectively, 2) 12.7% CP of a diet based on corn-soybean meal and adequately balanced for limiting essential amino acids other than TRP; and 16.7% CP diet with additional protein from corn gluten meal. Dietary CP interacted with TRP on feed intake and growth, with a greater depressive effect at .12% TRP than at .16% TRP in the three genders. Norepinephrine concentration, which was the highest in the preoptic area, was higher in females than in intact or castrated males. Serotonin concentration was increased by TRP supplementation in the different brain regions. Additional CP depressed serotonin concentration more at .12% TRP than at .16% TRP. The greater sensitivity of feed intake and growth of pigs, especially females, to TRP deficiency in the presence of additional CP may have been related to a more critical serotonergic activity, when hypothalamic serotonin concentration fell below a threshold level. Supplemental TRP increased muscle pH, both at 45 min and 24 h after death, in ham (adductor femoris and semimembranosus) and loin (longissimus), suggesting a sedative effect of TRP for reducing stress response.

Effect of muscle type and food deprivation for 24 hours on the composition of the lipid fraction in muscles of Large White pigs.

The present study was designed to examine the lipid composition of a predominantly glycolytic (M. longissimus lumborum, LL) and a predominantly oxidative (M. semispinalis capitis, SC) muscle sampled at slaughter from Large White pigs fed or deprived of food for 24 h. The intramuscular lipid content was almost four-fold higher in the red SC than in the white LL. When expressed on a muscle tissue basis, the results indicated that the LL had significantly lower amount of tri-, di- and monoglycerides, free fatty acids, cholesterol and phospholipids than the SC. In both muscles, phosphatidylcholine represented the major constituent of the phospholipid fraction. The difference in phospholipid content between the LL and the SC was significant only for cardiolipin, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. When expressed on total lipid basis, the results showed that the SC contained significantly lower amount of phospholipids and higher amount of triglycerides than the LL, thus suggesting that the influence of muscle type on the content of intramuscular lipid was primarily due to a difference in the amount of triglycerides. Food deprivation for 24 h resulted in a significantly higher content of free fatty acids, as expressed on a muscle tissue basis, in both muscles. Relative to total lipid, food deprivation resulted in increased levels of free fatty acids and monoglycerides only in the LL. These results suggest that food deprivation for 24 h induced lipolysis in muscle, as evidenced by a modification in the relative composition of the neutral lipid fraction, but that this effect was muscle-dependent.

[Effects of dietary linoleic acid on lipogenesis enzyme activity in adipose tissue in the pig]. / Effets de l'acide linoléique alimentaire sur l'activité des enzymes de la lipogenèse dans les tissus adipeux chez le porc.

The effect of dietary linoleic acid on lipogenesis was determined on 36 Large White castrated male pigs fed between 35 and 100 kg liveweight diets containing 4% of total lipids including 3 levels of linoleic acid 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%. The elevation in dietary linoleic acid increases the carcass fatness (P < 0.01). At slaughter, linoleic acid content in the backfat increases with the level of dietary linoleic acid (P < 0.001). The lipogenesis measured by the activities of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase increases significantly in adipose tissues (backfat and lean fat) with the dietary linoleic supply, whereas no effect was noticed in intramuscular fat. The increase in fat synthesis can explain the higher increase in carcass fatness of pigs fed diets containing high levels of linoleic acid.

Patterns of plasma LH, FSH, oestradiol and corticosteroids from birth to the first oestrous cycle in Meishan gilts.

Hormonal changes associated with pubertal development in a breed of pig exhibiting early puberty were determined. In Expt 1, blood from prepubertal Meishan gilts was collected at about 1 (n = 5), 10 (n = 5), 20 (n = 4), 30 (n = 5), 50 (n = 5), 70 (n = 10), 80 (n = 10) and 90 (n = 7) days of age. In Expt 2, females were sampled between 99 and 116 days of age before (n = 16) or during (n = 9) the first oestrous cycle. Serial blood samples were collected through a jugular catheter at 20 min intervals. In Expt 2, age at puberty was determined by daily examination for oestrus and weekly evaluation of plasma progesterone and found to occur at 111 days of age. Hormone profiles determined at least 19 days before the first oestrus were grouped to constitute a prepubertal stage. In Expt 1, mean concentration of LH was high at 1 day of age, significantly lower at 10 days and showed nonsignificant variations until 90 days. Frequency of LH pulses increased between 10 and 50 days (0.42 versus 0.85 pulse h-1, P < 0.05), decreased between 50 and 70 days (0.49 pulse h-1, P < 0.05) and remained low thereafter. Amplitude of LH pulses was high between 1 and 30 days and declined progressively until 80 days. Mean concentration of FSH was high between 1 and 20 days and decreased progressively until 80 days (7.2 and 2.3 ng ml-1, respectively, at 20 and 80 days, P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)