Calving time identified by the automatic detection of tail movements and rumination time, and observation of cow behavioural changes.

The use of electronic devices to improve animal health, welfare and farm efficiency in precision livestock farming is a developing area of great scientific and commercial interest. In particular, the use of on-site dairy farm instruments to detect calving is a tool in reproduction livestock farming. The primary aim of this study was to validate the ability of the Moocall device (MD) to detect calving cows. In addition, behavioural changes in parturient dairy cows were evaluated using video-based observations. The MD was applied approximately 9 days before cow delivery. Observational sessions were conducted three times a day for each cow from the day before MD application to calving time. The sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) at 3 and 24 h before calving were measured to test the effectiveness of the MD. In addition, behavioural changes were investigated before and after the MD application as well as before and during calving time. The 3 h Se and the 3 h Sp obtained were 95.2 and 71.4%, respectively. No false negatives were observed in the 24 h before delivery (24 h Se=100%) while the 3 h Se was 95.2%. The MD was well tolerated by the dairy cows since no change in behaviours was observed in this study among the cows with or without the MD, except for an increase in eating behaviour in the animals with the MD. As regards, the behavioural pattern during calving time (8 h before calving) in comparison with the previous phases, a significant increase in tail contraction frequency and raised tail position, and a decrease in eating behaviour and rumination time were observed. The first principal component (PC) was primarily explained by these variables, and calving cows best contributed to this PC. According to the results of the present study, the use of the MD can be a useful tool in detecting the moment of calving.

A comparison of the ethanol sensing properties of α-iron oxide nanostructures prepared via the sol-gel and electrospinning techniques.

Haematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructures were synthesized via a Pechini sol-gel method (PSG) and an electrospinning (ES) technique. Their texture and morphology were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were obtained by the PSG method, whereas fibrous structures consisting of interconnected particles were synthesized through the ES technique. The crystallinity of the α-Fe2O3 nanostructures was also studied by means of x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Gas-sensing devices were fabricated by printing the synthesized samples on ceramic substrates provided with interdigitated Pt electrodes. The sensors were tested towards low concentrations of ethanol in air in the temperature range (200-400 °C). The results show that the α-Fe2O3 nanostructures exhibit somewhat different gas-sensing properties and, interestingly, their sensing behaviour is strongly temperature-dependent. The availability of active sites for oxygen chemisorption and the diffusion of the analyte gas within the sensing layer structure are hypothesized to be the key factors responsible for the different sensing behaviour observed.

No phenotypic differences for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) between women with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus.

CONTEXT: Women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) have a higher prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) than the general population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify, in DM1 women with PCOS (PCOS-DM1), the influence of insulin therapy and glycemic control and evaluate the hormonal and phenotypic differences with age-matched and body mass index (BMI)-matched women with PCOS without diabetes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: We evaluated 103 DM1 women with and without PCOS treated with intensive insulin therapy; 38 age-matched and BMI-matched women with PCOS without diabetes were compared in a cross-sectional study. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Clinical, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters were evaluated. Hormonal evaluation and ovary ultrasound were performed during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. RESULTS: Applying the diagnostic criteria of the Androgen Excess Society, 38 (36.89%) women with DM1 showed PCOS. The 38 PCOS-DM1 women showed no differences in treatment and glycemic control compared with DM1 women without PCOS. The only difference was a higher visceral adiposity index in PCOS-DM1 (1.21±0.70 vs 0.90±0.32; P=.002). PCOS-DM1 showed no phenotypic differences with age-matched and BMI-matched PCOS without diabetes. The hormonal pattern was similar except that higher levels of Δ4androstenedione were found in PCOS-DM1 (12.89±3.49 vs 2.79±1.75 nmol/L; P=.010). CONCLUSIONS: The women with PCOS-DM1 do not exhibit particular phenotypic characteristics compared with nondiabetic women with PCOS. However, this pathological disorder must not be underestimated because it could be an additional cardiovascular risk factor in women with DM1.

Study of T-cell activation in type I diabetic patients and pre-type I diabetic subjects by cytometric analysis: antigen expression defect in vitro.

In Type I diabetes the observation of a decreased release of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and soluble IL-2 receptors by means of stimulated lymphocytes in vitro indicates that a primary immunoregulatory defect may be involved. To confirm this hypothesis we investigated the T-cell activation trend, evaluating the surface expression of IL-2 receptor (CD25), transferrin (CD71), HLA class II (DR), and CD69 phenotypes after in vitro stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA; 1 and 10 micrograms/ml) and concanavalin A (12.5 micrograms/ml) in six newly diagnosed Type I diabetics and six islet cell- and insulin autoantibody-positive first-degree relatives. As controls were studied six long-standing Type I diabetics and six healthy subjects. T-cell cultures from the four groups were performed on the same day and examined at 0, 24, 48, 96, 120, and 144 hr. Cytometric analysis was performed, keeping PBMC gating constant on the basis of physical parameters (scatter and volume). Using both PHA concentrations, a lower level of CD25, CD71, CD69, and DR antigen expression was found in newly diagnosed patients at all observation times with respect to control cultures (P < 0.001). Unexpectedly, pre-Type I diabetic subjects, after 1 microgram/ml of PHA, showed a significantly reduced expression of CD69 (P < 0.001) and CD71 (P < 0.001). The levels remained low, also with high PHA, at the different observation periods, while CD25 expression was found to be reduced in prediabetics only after 1 micrograms/ml of PHA (P < 0.001). The long-standing patients showed a T cell activation trend very close to the latter. Our data show that in Type I diabetes and in the early phases of the disease, the initial activation signal(s) appears to be affected, particularly with one or more subsequent events necessary to initiate the appearance of "activation antigens." This study suggests that the natural history of immunoregulation in pre-Type I and Type I diabetes is characterized by a primary defect in this system, which also persists in patients with long-standing disease.

The influence of high dose intravenous immunoglobulins on immunological and metabolic pattern in newly diagnosed type I diabetic patients.

In autoimmune disease the functional deficiency of T suppressor cells, also described in Type I diabetes, may be restored through immunoglobulin (Ig) infusion, which increases antigen phagocytosis, NK activity, cell clones and antibody anti-idiotype responses. Sixteen Type I diabetic patients were studied: eight were treated soon after the initial correction of disease-onset glycemic deterioration with intensive intravenous (i.v.) 7S Ig treatment (0.4 g/kg/BW) for 1 week and once per week for 6 months, whilst the remaining patients constituted the control group. All patients were evaluated during the study for metabolic and immunological parameters. A reduction in insulin requirement compared to conventionally treated patients was observed at the third (0.17 +/- 0.06 vs 0.44 +/- 0.08 IU/kg/BW; P less than 0.02) and at the sixth month of therapy (0.19 +/- 0.07 vs 0.54 +/- 0.07 IU/kg/BW; P less than 0.005). Two patients ceased to require insulin therapy within the BW; P less than 0.005). Two patients ceased to require insulin therapy within the first month, showing a prolonged restoration of B-cell function. Serum C-peptide values were also significantly higher in the Ig-treated group compared to the control group after 3 and 6 months. As regards immunological parameters, patients showed a decrease in insulin antibody levels and a reduction in TAC+ cells. Intravenous Ig therapy seems able to affect positively the first phases of metabolic and immunological deterioration of Type I diabetes.

Early administration of an immunomodulator and induction of remission in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

A clinical trial was undertaken to determine whether intensive thymopentin administration enhances remission of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) during the first year after diagnosis. Dosage with insulin was minimized with target control of blood glucose levels less than or equal to 7.8 mmol/l before meals. Remission was defined as a prolonged period after IDDM onset (not less than 3 months) characterized by a non-insulin-receiving (NIR) state in which target metabolic control was reached without administration of insulin and with a valid C-peptide response, evaluated after standard breakfast. Sixteen IDDM patients aged 12-31 years, recruited within 2 weeks of initiation of insulin therapy and within 5 weeks of onset of symptoms, were treated with intravenous (i.v.) thymopoietin32-36 pentapeptide (Thy) (1 mg/kg/body weight) for 7 days and twice per week for up to 3 months. A control IDDM group without initial significant differences in metabolic control parameters was also studied. No difference was observed between the two IDDM groups regarding the after-diagnosis normalization curve of HbA1c; mean daily glycemic level rates and ICA titer decreased during the observation. A reduction in anti-insulin antibodies (AIA) in Thy-treated patients was observed in comparison to conventionally treated IDDM starting from 6 months and reaching a reduction peak at 1 year (P less than or equal to 0.02). As regards the NIR remission rate, it was significantly more accelerated in Thy-treated patients, reaching 43% at 6 months and 57% at 1 year vs 12% and 6.7% respectively in the control IDDM group (P range less than or equal to 0.05-0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interleukin 2 and soluble interleukin 2-receptor secretion defect in vitro in newly diagnosed type I diabetic patients.

In this study, we investigated whether an interleukin 2 (IL-2) secretion defect by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after in vitro stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-M) occurs in either newly diagnosed or long-standing type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and whether it is accompanied by a dysregulation of soluble IL-2-receptor (IL-2RS) production. PBMC cultures (2.5 x 10(6) cells), unstimulated or stimulated with PHA-M (25 micrograms/ml), from 20 type I diabetic patients (10 with time since onset less than 3 mo and 10 with long-term diabetes of less than 3 yr) and 10 control subjects were studied for the production of IL-2 and IL-2RS in their respective supernatants. No difference was found in IL-2 production in unstimulated cultures of type I patients compared with control subjects, although a significant decrease from PHA-M-stimulated cultures were seen (newly diagnosed, 1.7 +/- 0.3 ng/2.5 x 10(6) cells; long-standing, 2.2 +/- 0.3 ng/2.5 x 10(6) cells; P less than .001 and P less than .05, respectively) compared with control subjects (3.6 +/- 0.4 ng/2.5 x 10(6) cells). In regard to the production of IL-2RS, no difference exists for unstimulated cultures, whereas, after PHA-M stimulation, both newly diagnosed and long-term-diabetic patients showed a decrease in the IL-2RS levels (318 +/- 50 and 331 +/- 62 U/2.5 x 10(6) cells; P less than .02 and P less than .05, respectively) compared with normal subjects (463 +/- 34.2 U/2.5 x 10(6) cells). Thymus-activated cell phenotypes confirmed the T-lymphocyte activation after a 48-h culture period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dissociated production of interleukin-2 and immune gamma-interferon by phytohaemoagglutinin stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.

In order to analyze the first steps of T cell activation in type 1 diabetes we studied in vitro IL-2 and gamma-IFN production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after 24 h PHA stimulation. There was a significant decrease in IL-2 production by mononuclear cells of the diabetic patients with respect to the controls. No significant difference was observed between the diabetic patients and the healthy subjects as regards gamma-IFN production. These observations may be interesting in relation to the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in type 1 diabetes. In particular, normal gamma-IFN production may indicate integrity of the natural killer circuit.

Increased soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in the sera of type 1 diabetic patients.

Recently, the presence of a soluble form of IL-2 receptor (IL-2RS) in human sera and in supernatants of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes has been demonstrated. It has been suggested that autoimmune diseases could be characterized by a defect in production of IL-2RS, unlike immunoproliferative disorders which are characterized by overproduction. Our aim was to investigate serum IL-2RS levels in 35 newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients, in 25 age-matched healthy blood donors and in five patients with Hodgkin's disease. We found that newly diagnosed diabetic patients have higher IL-2RS levels (424.8 +/- 203 U/ml) than normal controls (252.4 +/- 38.4 U/ml) (p less than 0.005). In 22 out of 35 patients (62.8%) the IL-2RS values were above the higher 95% tolerance limit of controls. Furthermore, the persistence of high IL-2RS levels was observed in 18/35 diabetic patients six months after diagnosis (470 +/- 195.6 U/ml). The increased levels were not correlated with glycaemic and HbA1c levels and patients' age. Our findings suggest a potentially significant role for the released IL-2R in the regulation of IL-2 dependent lymphocyte functions in Type 1 diabetes. The study of IL-2RS in Type 1 diabetes may provide a new tool for the knowledge of cytokine involvement in the disease.

HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR3 phenotypes and insulin antibody production in diabetic Sicilian patients.

We have evaluated the role played by HLA antigens in the control of humoral response to exogenous insulin in a sample of Sicilian insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. The results demonstrate that HLA-DR1-positive patients show the highest mean values of insulin antibody, whereas HLA-B18,DR3-positive patients show the lowest. Thus, present observations show that HLA-DR1- and HLA-DR3-linked genes do play opposite roles in the humoral immune response to an exogenous protein, i.e. injected insulin. These results might be consistent with the findings concerning the mechanisms involved in the resistance and/or susceptibility to immunological diseases. In this regard, the fact that no immunological spontaneous disorder has been shown to be associated with HLA-DR1, whereas several have been shown to be associated with HLA-DR3, is intriguing.

Prevalence of residual B-cell function related to age at onset and genetic profile in newly diagnosed type I diabetics.

Patients with type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus maintain B-cell function for a varying period of time after onset. This is commonly held to account for post-initial remission. To estimate residual B-cell function we measured plasma and 24-h urinary C-peptide in 68 type I diabetic patients (age range 4-35 years, within 10-180 days of the onset of symptoms, typed for HLA-A, -B, -C and DR loci. A positive correlation (r = 0.26; p less than 0.05) was found between urinary C-peptide levels and the age of the patient. The analysis of variance of urinary C-peptide values on the basis of the presence or absence of DR3 and DR4 antigens revealed that the DR3-positive patients had reduced excretion (15.2 +/- 9.2 SD micrograms/24h) with respect to the others (22.7 +/- 15.5 SD micrograms/24h) (F = 6.35; p less than 0.05). No interaction effect was found in DR3/4 positive patients. Hence, late onset patients appear to have higher residual C-peptide secretion. In the light of these findings, the assessment of B-cell function and genetic profile may be useful in predicting which patients are likely to have remission periods and identifying the metabolic consequences of even minimal endogenous insulin secretion.