Effect of dietary flax seed and oil on milk yield, gross composition, and fatty acid profile in dairy cows: A meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Several experiments were conducted over the past few years to evaluate the feeding value of flax seed and oil in dairy cow diets. The current meta-analysis and meta-regression was undertaken to assess the overall effect of different forms of flax, as a source of trienoic (cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 18:3) fatty acids (FA), on lactation performance and on transfer efficiency of its constituent n-3 FA from diet to milk fat. Comparisons were first conducted with nonsupplemented controls or with diets containing either saturated (mainly 16:0 or 18:0 or both), monoenoic (mainly cis-9 18:1), or dienoic (mainly cis-9,cis-12 18:2) FA. Results indicate that supplementing flax seed and oil decreased dry matter intake, as well as actual and energy-corrected milk yield without affecting the efficiency of utilization of dietary dry matter or energy as compared with nonsupplemented iso-energetic controls. When compared with the other 3 types of dietary fat evaluated, flax rich in trienoic FA supported a yield of energy-corrected milk similar to supplements rich in saturated, monoenoic, or dienoic FA. Greater milk fat concentration and feed efficiency were observed with saturated supplements. However, milk fat concentration and yield were lower with dienoic FA than with flax supplements. Further analyses were conducted to compare the effect of different forms of flax oil, seed, or fractions of seed. Among the 6 categories evaluated, mechanically processed whole seed (rolled or ground) allowed the greatest yield of energy-corrected milk and the best feed efficiency when compared with free oil, intact or extruded whole seed, protected flax, and flax hulls. Feeding protected flax and flax hulls allowed the greatest milk fat concentration of cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 18:3. Moreover, the greatest transfer efficiencies of this fatty acid from diet to milk were recorded with the same 2 treatments, plus the mechanically processed whole seed. These results make this last category the most suitable treatment, among the 6 flax forms evaluated, to combine optimum lactation performance and protection of flax constituent cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 18:3.

Vaccine-associated varicella and rubella infections in severe combined immunodeficiency with isolated CD4 lymphocytopenia and mutations in IL7R detected by tandem whole exome sequencing and chromosomal microarray.

In areas without newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), disease-defining infections may lead to diagnosis, and in some cases, may not be identified prior to the first year of life. We describe a female infant who presented with disseminated vaccine-acquired varicella (VZV) and vaccine-acquired rubella infections at 13 months of age. Immunological evaluations demonstrated neutropenia, isolated CD4 lymphocytopenia, the presence of CD8(+) T cells, poor lymphocyte proliferation, hypergammaglobulinaemia and poor specific antibody production to VZV infection and routine immunizations. A combination of whole exome sequencing and custom-designed chromosomal microarray with exon coverage of primary immunodeficiency genes detected compound heterozygous mutations (one single nucleotide variant and one intragenic copy number variant involving one exon) within the IL7R gene. Mosaicism for wild-type allele (20-30%) was detected in pretransplant blood and buccal DNA and maternal engraftment (5-10%) demonstrated in pretransplant blood DNA. This may be responsible for the patient's unusual immunological phenotype compared to classical interleukin (IL)-7Rα deficiency. Disseminated VZV was controlled with anti-viral and immune-based therapy, and umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation was successful. Retrospectively performed T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) analyses completed on neonatal Guthrie cards identified absent TREC. This case emphasizes the danger of live viral vaccination in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) patients and the importance of newborn screening to identify patients prior to high-risk exposures. It also illustrates the value of aggressive pathogen identification and treatment, the influence newborn screening can have on morbidity and mortality and the significant impact of newer genomic diagnostic tools in identifying the underlying genetic aetiology for SCID patients.

[Delirium: an interdisciplinary challenge]. / Delir : Eine interdisziplinäre Herausforderung.

Delirium, the acute deterioration of cognitive function and attention, is the most frequent mental disorder in elderly. Its correct diagnosis and adequate management are of crucial importance for the patient's health and functional outcome. First of all, one has to be aware of the possibilities of preventing this complex, potentially life-threatening problem, which means recognizing the patient at risk, avoiding environmental stress and causal factors (i.e., anticholinergic medication) in cognitively impaired patients, and timely reaction to prodromal symptoms. Causal therapy (i.e., treatment of the causal condition and/or eliminating the precipitating situation) is imperative. It must be accompanied by nursing and environmental measures and, if necessary, by antipsychotic and/or sedating symptomatic treatment.

Self-condensing vinyl polymerization: an approach to dendritic materials.

Self-condensing vinyl polymerization was used to produce dendritic polymers with both highly branched structures and numerous reactive groups. A vinyl monomer will undergo self-polymerization if it contains a pendant group that can be transformed into an initiating moiety by the action of an external stimulus. The self-polymerization combines features of a classical vinyl polymerization process with those of a polycondensation because growth is accomplished by the coupling of reactive oligomers. Highly branched, irregular dendritic structures with a multiplicity of reactive functionalities are obtained by polymerization of 3-(1-chloroethyl)-ethenylbenzene.

Automated Analysis of Fluorescence Colocalization: Application to Mitophagy.

Mitophagy is a peculiar form of organelle-specific autophagy that targets mitochondria. This process ensures cellular homeostasis, as it fosters the disposal of aged and damaged mitochondria that otherwise would be prone to produce reactive oxygen species and hence endanger genomic stability. Similarly, autophagic clearance of depolarized mitochondria plays a fundamental role in organismal homeostasis as exemplified by the link between Parkinson disease and impaired function of the mitophagy-mediating proteins PINK1 and Parkin. Here, we detail an image-based approach for the quantification of mitochondrial Parkin translocation, which is mechanistically important for the initiation of mitophagy.

A latent thiol proteinase from ascitic fluid of patients with neoplasia.

Pepsin treatment of ascitic fluid from patients with neoplasia generated a cysteine (thiol) proteinase activity which resembles cathepsin B (EC 3.4.22.1) in its requirements for thiol activators, susceptibility to inhibitors and specificity for synthetic substrates. As judged by gel filtration, pepsin reduced the molecular size of the latent enzyme from an Mr of 41,000 to 33,000 after activation. Both forms are larger than human liver cathepsin B. In addition to its presence in ascitic fluid, the pepsin-activated species was found in the medium of ascites cells maintained in culture. The latent enzyme may be an enzyme-inhibitor complex or an inactive precursor of a cathepsin B-like proteinase.

Characterization of a latent cysteine proteinase from ascitic fluid as a high molecular weight form of cathepsin B.

The latent cysteine proteinase present in ascitic fluid of patients with neoplasia and released from ascites cells in culture has been partially purified and the enzyme after pepsin activation was shown to be immunologically related to the lysosomal proteinase, cathepsin B. The latent form was characterized as a single chain of Mr 40 000 as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions followed by Western blotting and immune staining with an antiserum to human cathepsin B. Using the same techniques the enzyme after pepsin activation gave a single band of Mr 33 000. Analysis by isoelectric focusing showed that the latent enzyme before and after pepsin treatment is composed of several acidic isoenzymes. These findings suggest that this latent proteinase represents a precursor form of cathepsin B which is released extracellularly rather than being processed and directed to the lysosome.

Characterization of adhesion zones in E. coli cells.

After plasmolysis of Escherichia coli cells, the adhesion zones were characterized using the cytochemical PTA and SP procedures which stain peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) respectively. A PTA-stained layer was detected at the adhesion sites. This layer was visualized irrespective of the electron microscopy procedure used. Also, using SP staining an outer membrane in which LPS molecules were asymmetrically distributed, was observed.

Interactions of membrane lipoproteins with the murein sacculus of Escherichia coli as shown by chemical crosslinking studies of intact cells.

Proteins that were closely associated with murein in intact cells of Escherichia coli were studied by treating [3H]leucine and [3H]palmitate-labeled cells with the chemical crosslinking reagent dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate). Murein was purified and crosslinked peptides were released from the murein by treatment with beta-mercaptoethanol. Nine murein-associated [3H]leucine-labeled peptides were identified. Five of the nine peptides were lipoproteins, based on labeling with [3H]palmitate, protease sensitivity and gel electrophoretic correspondence to membrane lipoproteins present in uncrosslinked cell envelope preparations. The results suggest that these membrane lipoproteins may play a significant role in the structural integration of the murein and membrane layers of the cell envelope.

The combined action of two enzymes in human serum can mimic the activity of cathepsin B.

Synthetic substrates are often used to measure the activity of proteolytic enzymes. We have investigated the activities which cleave synthetic substrates such as alpha-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Arg-Arg-beta-naphthylamide, for which the lysosomal proteinase cathepsin B has a high affinity, in sera from normal individuals, pregnant women and patients with breast cancer. As reported by other workers, activities against these substrates were elevated during pregnancy. Naphthylamine release, however, was shown to be the result of the combined action of two enzymes. The substrate is first cleaved by an endopeptidase to yield alpha-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Arg and the aminopeptidase substrate Arg-beta-naphthylamide, which is then cleaved by serum aminopeptidases, particularly oxytocinase. A similar mechanism of cleavage was also found in the sera of breast cancer patients, where the endopeptidase catalyzing the first reaction was characterized as plasma kallikrein and the second reaction was carried out by serum leucine aminopeptidase. In no serum sample was there evidence for true cathepsin B activity.

Convulxin, a potent platelet-aggregating protein from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, specifically binds to platelets.

Convulxin, a very potent aggregating protein from rattlesnake venom, was purified by a new procedure and its heterodimeric structure alpha 3 beta 3 was confirmed. The polypeptide N-terminal sequences of convulxin subunits were determined by Edman degradation. They are very similar and appear homologous to botrocetin from Bothrops jararaca venom and to rattlesnake lectin from Crotalus atrox venom, both being classified among the C-type lectin family. The binding of 125I-labelled convulxin to blood platelets has also been analysed under equilibrium conditions. These studies indicated that convulxin binds to platelets with a high affinity (Kd = 30 pM) on a small number of binding sites (1000 binding sites per cell). The high-affinity binding of convulxin appears specific to platelets, since it is not observed on other cell types such as neutrophils and erythrocytes. Also, the high-affinity binding of convulxin to membranes platelet is not inhibited by alpha-thrombin, fibrinogen, collagen, laminin binding inhibitor, RGDS peptide, adenosine diphosphate, platelet-activating factor-acether, serotonin or epinephrine. This, together with the recent observation that platelet activation by convulxin is partially mediated by phospholipase C and involves other mechanisms as well, indicates that convulxin may interact with a specific platelet acceptor (receptor) protein which has yet to be characterized.

Why do old people stoop?

Measurements of balance and of stooping were made in 38 healthy and active volunteers of various ages, and in 16 patients who had suffered falls and subsequent limitations of mobility. All subjects were able to stand unsupported for 30 seconds. Balance function as measured sensitively on a Kistler force plate showed a tendency to progressive impairment with increasing age. No difference was detected in balance between those who had fallen and between normal subjects of the same age. No relationship was observed between the measurements of stooping and age or the occurrence of a fall. Stooping does not occur as an adaptation to the minor degrees of balance impairment demonstrated in these subjects.

Skull infarction in a patient with malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

The authors describe a case of a skull infarction initially suspected to be an isolated, remote metastasis in a patient diagnosed with soft tissue malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Osseous malignant fibrous histiocytoma has been reported to occur within a bone infarction but the presence of a benign bone infarction remote from a soft tissue malignant fibrous histiocytoma has not been reported previously. Bone infarctions and malignant fibrous histiocytomas are briefly reviewed.

[Ovarian tumor and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. A case report]. / Tumeurs ovariennes et syndrome de Peutz-Jeghers. A propos d'un cas.

A case of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome associated with ovarian mucinous cystadenoma and ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules is presented. The sec cord tumor with annular tubules was described in 1970 by Scully, who recognized its striking association with the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. This tumor is an almost constant finding in patients' ovaries with this disorder. Three cases of ovarian mucinous cystadenoma and sex cord tumor with annular tubules associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome were found in the literature. Our observation confirms that gynecologic abnormalities are an important manifestation of the syndrome and require careful surveillance.

[Vulvar granuloma due to Enterobius vermicularis (author's transl)]. / Granulome vulvaire oxyurosique.

The authors report a case of casual discovery of a enterobiasic vulvar granuloma arising on the left labia. This woman, living in Lille (France), 70 years had been treated by surgery and roentgentherapy for a well differentiated squamous carcinoma of the vulva. They consider the question of the genital localisation of Enterobius vermicularis in women and discuss the pathogenic hypothesis.