Effects of bedding with recycled sand on lying behaviors, udder hygiene, and preference of lactating Holstein dairy cows.

Effects of bedding with recycled sand and season on lying behaviors, hygiene, and preferences of late-lactation Holstein cows were studied. It was hypothesized that recycled sand will decrease lying time and increase hygiene scores due to increased moisture content and organic matter, and thus a preference for the control sand will be evident. Cows (n = 64) were divided into 4 groups (n = 8 per group) per season. In summer (August to September), cows were balanced by days in milk (268.1 ± 11.9 d) and parity (2.0 ± 0.2). In winter (January to February), mean DIM was 265.5 ± 34.1 d. Cows were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments using a crossover design with each treatment lasting 7 d (no-choice phase): bedding with recycled sand (RS; n = 32) or control (CO; clean sand; n = 32). Stocking density was maintained at 100%. The choice phase allowed cows to have access to either treatment with stocking density at 50%. Accelerometers recorded daily lying time, number of lying bouts per day, lying bout duration (min/bout), and total steps per day. Teat swabs, milk, sand samples, and udder hygiene scores were collected on d 0, 3, and 7 of each experimental week. Samples were cultured for streptococci, staphylococci, and gram-negative bacteria. Video data were used to assess bedding preferences. All data were analyzed using the MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Lying time was not affected by treatment, but cows did take more steps during winter. Bacterial counts were elevated for cows on recycled sand. A preference was observed for clean sand during the summer, but no preference was observed for sand during the winter. Regardless of bedding, the most commonly observed behavior was lying in the stalls, which suggested either bedding might be suitable. Caution should be used with this interpretation of preference, as sand was recycled only once. This limited reclamation was still sufficient to potentially alter the composition of sand, driving the observed preference. If these changes in composition continue, then the strength of the preference may also change. However, considering all variables within the current study, recycled sand is a viable bedding source to use for dairy cows.

IPS-1 differentially induces TRAIL, BCL2, BIRC3 and PRKCE in type I interferons-dependent and -independent anticancer activity.

RIG-I-like receptors are the key cytosolic sensors for RNA viruses and induce the production of type I interferons (IFN) and pro-inflammatory cytokines through a sole adaptor IFN-ß promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1) (also known as Cardif, MAVS and VISA) in antiviral innate immunity. These sensors also have a pivotal role in anticancer activity through induction of apoptosis. However, the mechanism for their anticancer activity is poorly understood. Here, we show that anticancer vaccine adjuvant, PolyIC (primarily sensed by MDA5) and the oncolytic virus, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) (sensed by RIG-I), induce anticancer activity. The ectopic expression of IPS-1 into type I IFN-responsive and non-responsive cancer cells induces anticancer activity. PolyIC transfection and NDV infection upregulate pro-apoptotic gene TRAIL and downregulate the anti-apoptotic genes BCL2, BIRC3 and PRKCE. Furthermore, stable knockdown of IPS-1, IRF3 or IRF7 in IFN-non-responsive cancer cells show reduced anticancer activity by suppressing apoptosis via TRAIL and anti-apoptotic genes. Collectively, our study shows that IPS-1 induces anticancer activity through upregulation of pro-apoptotic gene TRAIL and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic genes BCL2, BIRC3 and PRKCE via IRF3 and IRF7 in type I IFN-dependent and -independent manners.

Endovascular repair of wide neck AAA--preliminary report on feasibility and complications.

AIM: To assess the feasibility of endovascular repair (EVR) of wide neck abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: A cohort of patient was identified who had an AAA neck diameter of 28 mm or more and underwent EVR. These patients undergo regular follow-up by 6 monthly CT scan of abdominal aorta. Two independent observers quantified the diameter of the suprarenal aorta, the top of the neck, the bottom of the neck, the length of the neck and the transverse diameter of the AAA. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 16 patients. Bland Altman Analysis determined that the 95% interobserver limits of agreement were -4.7 to 3.3 mm. The mean preoperative diameter of the suprarenal aorta, the top of the neck and bottom of the neck all were 31 mm. On the follow-up CT scan on average after 12 months the suprarenal aorta measured 29 mm, the top of the neck 28 mm and the bottom of the neck 30 mm. There was a statistically significant decrease in the size of the top of the neck (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This preliminary report suggests that the endovascular repair of AAA with a wide neck is feasible with available commercial devices. The necks do not appear to increase in size and there is no increased incidence of proximal endoleak.

Post-transcriptional regulation of thyroid hormone receptor expression by cis-acting sequences and a naturally occurring antisense RNA.

Thyroid hormone (T(3)) coordinates growth, differentiation, and metabolism by binding to nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). The TRalpha gene encodes T(3)-activated TRalpha1 (NR1A1a) as well as an antagonistic, non-T(3)-binding alternatively spliced product, TRalpha2 (NR1A1b). Thus, the TRalpha1/TRalpha2 ratio is a critical determinant of T(3) action. However, the mechanisms underlying this post-transcriptional regulation are unknown. We have identified a non-consensus, TRalpha2-specific 5' splice site and conserved intronic sequences as key determinants of TRalpha mRNA processing. In addition to these cis-acting elements, a novel regulatory feature is the orphan receptor RevErbAalpha (NR1D1) gene, which is transcribed from the opposite direction at the same locus and overlaps the TRalpha2 coding region. RevErbAalpha gene expression correlates with a high TRalpha1/TRalpha2 ratio in a number of tissues. Here we demonstrate that coexpression of RevErbAalpha and TRalpha regulates the TRalpha1/TRalpha2 ratio in intact cells. Thus, both cis- and trans-regulatory mechanisms contribute to cell-specific post-transcriptional regulation of TR gene expression and T(3) action.

Localization of the human frontal eye fields and motor hand area with transcranial magnetic stimulation and magnetic resonance imaging.

We localized the neuroanatomical correlates for control of saccadic eye movements and for finger movements using a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach. Two participants underwent TMS while performing an endogenous saccade task. The motor hand area was localized by TMS and the region anterior to it was mapped to identify the borders of a region where TMS produced delays in generating contralateral saccades. MRI scans were then obtained with fiducial markers placed over the motor hand area and 2 cm anterior to it, the common cortical region that produced saccadic delays in these two subjects. It was also shown that the structural anatomy of the hand area, physiologically defined by visible contractions of the contralateral hand following TMS, corresponded to the knob-like structure recently reported [18, 19]. These results demonstrate that TMS can be a precise, non-invasive tool for neuroanatomical mapping of cortical structures when combined with structural images of the brain.