Metabolic status of lactating cows given a hepatoprotectant and different feed energy sources.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of hepatoprotective agents added to diets containing different energy sources on the metabolic status of lactating dairy cows in confinement. Sixteen Holstein × Gir crossbred midlactation cows with a body weight of 553 ± 85 kg were included in this feeding trial. These animals were arranged in a 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was employed in this feeding experiment. Experimental treatments consisted of the administration of diets supplemented with a hepatoprotectant and diets without hepatoprotectant. These diets contained varying amounts of ground corn or citrus pulp as energy sources. Serum markers for energy metabolism and proteins were evaluated and liver enzymes were measured. Blood samples were collected in the morning before (0 h) and 4 h after the animals were fed these diets. There was no interaction between the hepatoprotective agent and the dietary energy sources for the metabolic status variables. Ground corn as an energy source yielded higher serum concentrations of glucose, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and globulins, whereas b-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), total cholesterol, albumin, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) yielded the highest concentrations in diets containing citrus pulp. There was interaction between time and hepatoprotective agent in serum LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol concentration. The present study shows that ground corn diets increased the synthesis of glucogenic nutrients, whereas citrus pulp used as an energy source altered the lipid status of lactating cows. The hepatoprotective agent increased postprandial serum LDL cholesterol levels.

Dynamics of degradation of high-quality tropical forage according to levels of nitrogen supplementation.

The present study aimed to evaluate the degradation dynamics of high-quality tropical forage according to the levels of nitrogen supplementation. In this study, 4 rumen-fistulated cows with a body weight of 653 ± 47 kg were used. These animals were distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design. Cows were kept under a grazing regime in an area formed by Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania. These animals received 4 levels of crude protein (CP) in the supplements (122, 142, 162, and 180 g/kg of CP in DM). The degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was determined by in situ incubation of forage samples at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. Both the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and the microbial protein synthesis were affected by CP levels of the supplements (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) for fraction b, potential degradability, and effective degradability of DM and NDF, and for the c degradation rate of CP of Tanzania grass which had the highest values at 122 g/kg of CP. Overall, the greatest degradation of nutrients from Tanzania grass occurred in the diet with 122 g/kg of CP and 604 g/kg of NFC in dairy cattle supplements that resulted in the highest rates of nitrogen utilization by rumen microbes.

Protein matrices for improved wound healing: elastase inhibition by a synthetic peptide model.

The unique properties of silk fibroin were combined with keratin to develop new wound-dressing materials. Silk fibroin/keratin (SF/K) films were prepared to reduce high levels of elastase found on chronic wounds. This improved biological function was achieved by the incorporation of a small peptide synthesized based on the reactive-site loop of the Bowman-Birk Inhibitor (BBI) protein. In vitro degradation and release were evaluated using porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) solution as a model of wound exudate. It was found that biological degradation and release rate are highly dependent on film composition. Furthermore, the level of PPE activity can be tuned by changing the film composition, thus showing an innovative way of controlling the elastase-antielastase imbalance found on chronic wounds.

Uso da homeopatia no gado de leite como modulador da função hepática: uma revisão / Use of homeopathy in dairy cattle as a modulator of liver function: a review / Uso de la homeopatía en ganado lechero como modulador de la función hepática: una revisión

Resumo A homeopatia pode ser utilizada na pecuária leiteira como uma alternativa segura aos antibióticos, capaz de reduzir a expansão da resistência microbiana, ao passo que mantém a saúde dos rebanhos. No entanto, os compostos homeopáticos podem também ser usados como protetores do fígado, podendo atuar na modulação da função hepática. Os medicamentos homeopáticos a base de plantas podem ser utilizados como agentes hepatoprotetores, uma vez que possuem a capacidade de prevenir e reparar desordens hepáticas que comumente acometem vacas em lactação. Assim, o conhecimento das propriedades terapêuticas de plantas permite a elaboração de preparos homeopáticos, capazes de preservar a saúde dos animais de produção. Baseado nisso, objetivou-se com esta revisão discorrer sobre compostos vegetais utilizados na homeopatia como hepatoprotetores e seus efeitos no metabolismo hepático e na resposta produtiva de animais ruminantes em lactação.

Abstract Homeopathy can be used in dairy farming as a safe alternative to antibiotics, capable of reducing the expansion of microbial resistance, while maintaining the health of herds. However, homeopathic compounds can also be used as liver protectors, and can act in the modulation of liver function. Herbal homeopathic medicines can be used as hepatoprotective agents, since they have the ability to prevent and repair liver disorders that commonly affect lactating cows. Thus, knowledge of the therapeutic properties of plants allows the preparation of homeopathic preparations, capable of preserving the health of farm animals. Based on this, the aim of this review was to discuss plant compounds used in homeopathy as hepatoprotectors and their effects on liver metabolism and on the productive response of lactating ruminant animals.

Resumen La homeopatía se puede utilizar en la producción lechera como una alternativa segura a los antibióticos, capaz de reducir la expansión de la resistencia microbiana, manteniendo la salud de los rebaños. Sin embargo, los compuestos homeopáticos también pueden usarse como protectores del hígado y pueden actuar en la modulación de la función hepática. Los medicamentos homeopáticos a base de hierbas se pueden utilizar como agentes hepatoprotectores, ya que tienen la capacidad de prevenir y reparar los trastornos hepáticos que comúnmente afectan a las vacas lactantes. Así, el conocimiento de las propiedades terapéuticas de las plantas permite la elaboración de preparados homeopáticos, capaces de preservar la salud de los animales de granja. En base a esto, el objetivo de esta revisión es discutir los compuestos vegetales utilizados en homeopatía como hepatoprotectores y sus efectos sobre el metabolismo hepático y la respuesta productiva de los rumiantes lactantes.

Genetics of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: progress and future challenges.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is a rare cancer susceptibility syndrome. One third of HDGC syndrome families carry germline mutations of the E-cadherin gene. Owing to the limitation of the current endoscopic screening techniques and since no chemoprevention is yet available, total prophylactic gastrectomy is the only option offered to carriers of inactivating mutations in genetic counseling. In this regard, 30% of the E-cadherin germline mutations reported to date are of the missense type, and since their pathogenic significance is not straightforward, the management of carriers of such mutations is suboptimal. In the absence of definitive clinical evidence, functional in vitro studies together with in silico analysis have been used to infer the pathogenic significance of germline missense mutations. Since most of the HDGC families reported to date are negative for E-cadherin germline mutations, the identification of alternative genes underlying the tumorigenesis of diffuse gastric has become an important target for research.

Helicobacter pylori induces gastric epithelial cell invasion in a c-Met and type IV secretion system-dependent manner.

Helicobacter pylori interacts with gastric epithelial cells, activating signaling pathways important for carcinogenesis. In this study we examined the role of H. pylori on cell invasion and the molecular mechanisms underlying this process. The relevance of H. pylori cag pathogenicity island-encoded type IV secretion system (T4SS), CagA, and VacA for cell invasion was also investigated. We found that H. pylori induces AGS cell invasion in collagen type I and in Matrigel invasion assays. H. pylori-induced cell invasion requires the direct contact between bacteria and cancer cells. H. pylori-mediated cell invasion was dependent on the activation of the c-Met receptor and on increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. The abrogation of the c-Met receptor using the specific NK4 inhibitor or the silencing of c-Met expression with small interference RNA suppressed both cell invasion and MMP activity. Studies with different H. pylori strains revealed that cell invasion, c-Met tyrosine phosphorylation, and increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity were all dependent on the presence of a functional bacterial T4SS, but not on VacA cytotoxicity. Our findings demonstrate that H. pylori strains with a functional T4SS stimulate gastric epithelial cell invasion through a c-Met-dependent signaling pathway that comprises an increase in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity.