Immunometabolic response in Egyptian water buffalo cows during the transition period.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The transition period is extremely critical for pregnant producing animals. However, there is very limited research on the metabolic and immunological changes in Egyptian water buffalo cows during the transition period. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the immunometabolic changes occurring during the transition period in Egyptian water buffalo cows. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 multiparous pregnant Egyptian water buffalo cows were subjected to weekly blood sampling 3 weeks before calving and 3 weeks after calving and on the day of parturition to determine the complete blood count, including red blood cell count, total leukocyte count (TLC), differential leukocyte count, hemoglobin level, and packed cell volume (PCV). Some selected serum biochemical and immunological parameters were analyzed, including serum glucose, beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very LDL (VLDL), cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, Haptoglobin, and C-reactive protein and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin ß1, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. All data were statistically analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences statistics software. RESULTS: The neutrophil count showed a statistically significant increase at 2 weeks preparturition. There was also a significant increase in PCV, TLC, neutrophil count, and IL-6 and TNF-a level at the time of parturition and even at 2 weeks post parturition, except PCV that returned to normal levels in the 1st week post parturition. BHBA and BUN levels were increased significantly in the 2nd and 3rd weeks postcalving. Serum creatinine and VLDL levels were decreased significantly at the time of parturition, and VLDL levels showed a significant decrease even till the 3rd week postcalving, whereas creatinine levels gradually returned to the pre-calving levels in the 3rd week postcalving. Other parameters showed no significant changes. CONCLUSION: The most important immunometabolic changes occur in the first 2 weeks post parturition in Egyptian water buffalo cows, which exhibit a potent, remarkable physiological adaptation achieved by their functional liver, which can help the animal overcome the stressful conditions during the transition period.

Respiratory protection in dentistry.

Respiratory protection in the dental setting has become more important to protect healthcare professionals, their household members and their patients. As dental practices become increasingly independent in managing their respiratory protection requirements, the need for an in-depth understanding of the principles of respiratory protection is warranted. This article aims to enhance the awareness of dental professionals about the principles of respiratory protection and equipment, including designs, classification and levels of protection afforded to wearers. Determining the adequacy and suitability of respiratory protection, along with ensuring safe selection of appropriate equipment for protection of both wearer and patient, is described. Moreover, a detailed review of fit testing principles, procedures and governance are described. This comprehensive review should ensure that dental professionals are ideally placed to understand the implications of respiratory protection and safely apply it in their workplaces.

A Novel Morphological Analysis of DXA-DICOM Images by Artificial Neural Networks for Estimating Bone Mineral Density in Health and Disease.

One of the best methods for diagnosing bone disease in humans is site-specific and total bone mineral density (BMD) measurements by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) machines. The basic disadvantage of this technology is inconsistent BMD measurements among different DXA machines from different manufacturers due to different image analysis algorithms. The objective of the present study was to apply artificial neural networks (ANNs) to estimate total BMD for diagnosing a population of Egyptians with and without pathology, using extracted features from DXA-DICOM images based on the Histogram and Binary algorithms as compared to reference BMD measurements by DXA machine. The sample size comprised 3000 male and female participants with an age range 22-49 years, who were referred to us for diagnosis and/or treatment and for DXA total body scans in the period from January 2016 till December 2017. We constructed an entry computer data-logging visible unit, where we applied morphological operations to get a specific bone image, and used their extracted feature vectors as inputs to ANNs with cascade training, gathering, and testing for DXA-DICOM image processing. The multilayer feed-forward ANN set up its initial weights, carried out training and initiated the recall mode, and finally observed its decision and interaction based on estimated BMD. The ANN construction was carried out using a 3-layer architecture, with one hidden layer of 85 neurons. The input layer has neuron numbers equal to 256 for the Histogram and 77,365 for Binary algorithms, respectively. Total BMD estimation performance based on the Binary algorithm was capable of identifying all DXA-DICOM images with an accuracy of 100% for the training, cross-validation, and testing of the ANN phases. We believe this strategy will represent the means for standardizing bone measurements of all DXA machines, regardless of the manufacturer.

Volatile organic compounds of biofluids for detecting lung cancer by an electronic nose based on artificial neural network.

Lung cancer (LC) incidence represents 11.5% of all new cancers, resulting in 1.72 million deaths worldwide in 2015. With the aim to investigate the capability of the electronic nose (e-nose) technology for detecting and differentiating complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds in biofluids ex-vivo, we enrolled 50 patients with suspected LC and 50 matching controls. Tissue biopsy was taken from suspicious lung mass for histopathological evaluation and blood, exhaled breath, and urine samples were collected from all participants and qualitatively processed using e-nose. Odor-print patterns were further analysed using the principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis. Adenocarcinoma, non-small cell LC and squamous cell carcinoma were the predominant pathological types among LC patients. PCA cluster-plots showed a clear distinction between LC patients and controls for all biological samples; where the overall success ratios of classification for principal components #1 and #2 were: 95.46, 82.01, and 91.66% for blood, breath and urine samples, respectively. Moreover, ANN showed a better discrimination between LC patients and controls with success ratios of 95.74, 91.67 and 100% for blood, breath and urine samples, respectively. The e-nose is an easy noninvasive tool, capable of identifying LC patients from controls with great precision.

Underexpression of miR-486-5p but not Overexpression of miR-155 is Associated with Lung Cancer Stages.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is increasing that microRNAs (miR) are particularly important in lung homeostasis and development and have been shown to be involved in many pulmonary diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sarcoidosis, Lung Cancer (LC) and other smoking-related diseases. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of miR-155 and miR-486-5p in tissues from LC patients and healthy endobronchial mucosa as prognostic biomarkers for diagnosing LC. METHODS: Bronchoscopic and thoracoscopic tissue biopsies were taken from 50 LC patients and other 50 control subjects without lung mass, who were planned for a clinical bronchoscopy. The expressions of miR-155 and miR-486-5p in both tumor tissue and healthy mucosa were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Histopathology showed that 72% of LC patients were in advanced stages III and IV, with non-small cell lung carcinoma and adenocarcinoma being the most common diagnosis. miR-155 was significantly overexpressed while, miR-486-5p was underexpressed, in LC patients as compared to controls. Area under receiver operating characteristic curves of miR-155 (<-0.9) and miR-486 (>-0.62) had sensitivity of 92 and 96% and specificity of 80 and 84%, respectively, in discriminating LC patients from controls with benign solitary pulmonary nodules. CONCLUSION: miR-155 was highly overexpressed, yet it did not correlate with stages, while miR-486- 5p was extremely underexpressed and significantly correlated with stages of LC. Thus, their detection represents an excellent diagnostic/prognostic tool to support more established techniques linked to LC spread locally and systemically.

Referral Patterns of Pediatric Oral Surgery Cases: A Pilot Survey of United Arab Emirate Dentists

Objective: To assess the referral patterns of General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and Pediatric Dentists (PDs) when faced with a range of Pediatric-Oral Surgery (POS) cases. Material and Methods: Eighty-two dentists treating children [51.2% GDPs (n=42) and 48.8% PDs (n=40)] were shown clinical photographs or radiographs of twelve common POS cases. Opinions on whether to "manage it yourself", "refer to a/another pediatric dentist", "refer to an oral surgeon (OS)", "refer to a multidisciplinary clinic (MDC)", or "do nothing" were sought. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software with Chi-square test (p≤0.05). Results: Both GDPs and PDs reported significantly higher referrals to OS of: 1) lower lip mucoceles (50%, 52.5% respectively), 2) exposure of impacted maxillary canine (64%, 51.3%) and 3) dento-alveolar trauma cases (73.8%, 65%). A majority of GDPs and PDs reported self-managing of: 1) removal of multiple deciduous carious teeth (81%, 97.5%), 2) odontogenic infections with facial swelling (57.1%, 92.5%), 3) removal of ankylosed submerged primary molars (66.7%, 95%) and 4) dental trauma (71.4%, 100%). PDs reported self-managing primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (PHGS, 95%) compared to 45.2% of GDPs. GDP referral of PHGS to the PDs was 42.9%. There were no significant differences between both groups regarding removal of a mesiodens, release of a tongue-tie, a labial frenectomy, or a lip laceration, but the majority would refer to oral surgeons in these cases. Conclusion: Whilst United Arab Emirates dentists sampled referred some pediatric-oral surgery cases to oral surgeons, general dental practitioners were reluctant to refer pediatric-oral surgery cases to pediatric dentists, preferring to self-manage them.

Buffalo species identification and delineation using genetic barcoding markers.

Enrichment of barcode databases with mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode sequences in different animal taxa has become important for identification of animal source in food samples to prevent commercial fraud. In this study, COI barcode sequence in seventy one river buffalo samples were determined, analyzed and deposited in Genbank barcode database and barcode of life database (BOLD) to contribute for construction of public reference library for COI barcode sequence in river buffalo. Moreover COI barcode sequence was used to identify the closely related buffalo groups: river buffalo, swamp buffalo, lowland anoa and African buffalo. Results indicated the success of the COI barcode in the identification of each of the tested groups. Whereas a suggested sequence of other mitochondrial segment representing two successive transfer RNA (tRNA) genes; tRNA-Threonine (MT-TT) and tRNA-Proline (MT-TP) was failed to be used as a barcode marker for differentiation between the tested buffalo groups.

Effect of organic and inorganic selenium supplementation on semen quality and blood enzymes in buffalo bulls.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic selenium (Se) supplementation on semen quality and blood serum profiles of buffalo bulls. Nine mature buffalo bulls were divided into three groups: control (non-supplemented); organic Se (10 mg Sel-Plex®/head twice weekly) and inorganic Se (10 mg sodium selenite/head twice weekly). Semen was collected twice a week for 3 months during Se supplementation. Semen properties were evaluated from fresh ejaculate. Moreover, fructose concentration, aspartate and alanine transaminase (AST and ALT) activities, total protein and total cholesterol were assayed in seminal plasma. Additionally AST, ALT, testosterone and Se levels were determined in the blood serum. Results showed that Se supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) influences the semen parameters during 3 months of treatment. Organic Se significantly (P < 0.05) increased the percentage of viable sperms compared to inorganic Se and the control group. Fructose concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the seminal plasma of organic Se-treated bulls. Serum testosterone and Se concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the Se supplemented groups than the control group. In conclusion, Se supplementation improved the parameters of buffalo bull semen and more precisely, organic Se was more effective for the improvement of semen quality and some blood components than inorganic Se.

Accuracy of transrectal palpation for early pregnancy diagnosis in Egyptian buffaloes.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of transrectal palpation (TRP) for diagnosing early pregnancy in buffaloes and the false diagnoses of the TRP test by using the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein radioimmunoassay (PAG-RIA) test. Pregnancy was diagnosed in 168 buffalo-cows once by TRP and PAG-RIA test between days 31 and 55 after breeding. The sensitivity of TRP for detecting pregnant buffalo-cows was 37.5% at days 31-35, increased to 93.8% at days 46-50 and reached 100% at days 51-55 (P < 0.01). All cases of false negative diagnoses (n = 10) had PAG concentration higher than the threshold (≥1.8 ng/mL) for diagnosing pregnancy. The specificity of TRP for detecting non-pregnant buffalo cows ranged between 90.9%, and 100% between days 31 and 55. All cases of false positive diagnoses (n = 5) made by TRP had PAG concentrations lower than the threshold for diagnosing pregnancy. It could be concluded that TRP is an accurate method for diagnosing pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo cows from day 46 after breeding.

Efficacy of Ovsynch protocol in cyclic and acyclic Egyptian buffaloes in summer.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of an Ovsynch protocol in the cyclic and non-cyclic Egyptian buffaloes in the summer. The present study was carried out on 21 Egyptian pluriparous buffalo cows (11 cyclic and 10 acyclic) and 8 heifers (5 cyclic and 3 acyclic). All animals were administered 100 microg GnRH i.m. at Day 0, 500 microg of PGF2 proportional, variant i.m. at Day 7 and a second dose (100 microg) of GnRH i.m. at Day 9. Ovarian structures of the animals were recorded by means of transrectal ultrasonography (6-8 MHz linear-array transducer) daily from Day 0 (before treatment) to Day 9 (the second GnRH administration) and thereafter, at 12-h interval till ovulation or for a maximum of 48 h. After ultrasound examination, a blood sample was taken daily from each animal for progesterone analysis. The buffalo cows were inseminated at 16-20 h after 2nd GnRH administration. After the first administration of GnRH, 46% (5 of 11) of cyclic and 50% (5 of 10) of acyclic cows and 40% (2 of 5) of cyclic and 33% (1 of 3) of acyclic heifers responded by ovulation or luteinization of the follicles. The mean diameters (+/-S.E.M.) of the follicles in the responding cows and heifers were significantly higher than those in non-responding animals (9.7 +/- 0.4 mm vs. 6.7 +/- 0.6 mm, P < 0.0001; 11.1 +/- 1.5 mm vs. 7.3 +/- 0.7 mm, P < 0.05, respectively). After the second administration of GnRH, 81% (9 of 11) of cyclic and 60% (6 of 10) of acyclic cows and 80% (4 of 5) of cyclic and 33% (1 of 3) of acyclic heifers ovulated, respectively. Ovulations occurred earlier (P = 0.059) and over a wider range of time in the non-cyclic cows (26 +/- 4.8 h; range: 12-36 h) and in a heifer (12 h,) than in the cyclic cows (34.7 +/- 1.3 h; range 24-36 h) and heifers (33 +/- 3 h; range: 24-36 h). The conception rate was 18% (2 of 11) and 0% (0 of 10) in cyclic and non-cyclic cows, respectively. In conclusion, the Ovsynch protocol could be used effectively for synchronization of ovulation in cyclic cows and heifers in summer.

Effect of pretreatment with insulin on the response of buffaloes with inactive ovaries to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in summer.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a pretreatment with insulin on the response of buffalo cows with inactive ovaries to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment during hot summer months (July and August). Thirty-six Egyptian buffalo cows with inactive ovaries were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) group treated with GnRHa (G1, n = 16) in which each buffalo received an intramuscular injection of 250 mg of GnRHa (Day 0; gonadorelin, Fertagyl); (2) group treated with insulin before the GnRHa injection (G2, n = 8) in which each buffalo received a subcutaneous injection of biphasic insulin at a dose of 0.25 IU kg(-1) bodyweight once daily starting at Day -3 for 3 consecutive days, followed by an intramuscular injection of 250 mg of GnRHa on Day 0; and (3) the control group (G3, n = 12) in which each buffalo cow received an intramuscular injection of 2.5 mL of sterile saline on Day 0. The ovaries of all animals were examined by trans-rectal ultrasonography (5 MHz) on Days -7, -3 and 0 and continued thereafter at 4-day intervals until oestrus or the end of the experiment. On the same days that ultrasound examinations were performed blood samples were collected to measure the progesterone concentrations. Administration of insulin for 3 days before GnRHa injection (G2) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the diameter of the largest follicle from 6.85 +/- 0.64 to 12.4 +/- 0.88 mm. There was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in the oestrous induction rate in G2 compared with both G1 and G3 during the first 12 days after the treatment interval. It is concluded that pretreatment with insulin for 3 days before GnRHa injection increases the diameter of the dominant follicle and therefore the oestrous induction rate of acyclic buffaloes.