Short communication: Cytokine profiles from blood mononuclear cells of dairy cows classified with divergent immune response phenotypes.

Genetic selection for enhanced immune response has been shown to decrease disease occurrence in dairy cattle. Cows can be classified as high (H), average, or low responders based on antibody-mediated immune response (AMIR), predominated by type-2 cytokine production, and cell-mediated immune response (CMIR) through estimated breeding values for these traits. The purpose of this study was to identify in vitro tests that correlate with in vivo immune response phenotyping in dairy cattle. Blood mononuclear cells (BMC) isolated from cows classified as H-AMIR and H-CMIR through estimated breeding values for immune response traits were stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA; Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) and gene expression, cytokine production, and cell proliferation was determined at multiple time points. A repeated measures model, which included the effects of immune response group, parity, and stage of lactation, was used to compare differences between immune response phenotype groups. The H-AMIR cows produced more IL-4 protein than H-CMIR cows at 48 h; however, no difference in gene expression of type-2 transcription factor GATA3 or IL4 was noted. The BMC from H-CMIR cows had increased production of IFN-γ protein at 48, 72, and 96 h compared with H-AMIR animals. Further, H-CMIR cows had increased expression of the IFNG gene at 16, 24, and 48 h post-treatment with ConA, although expression of the type-1 transcription factor gene TBX21 did not differ between immune response groups. Although proliferation of BMC increased from 24 to 72 h after ConA stimulation, no differences were found between the immune response groups. Overall, stimulation of H-AMIR and H-CMIR bovine BMC with ConA resulted in distinct cytokine production profiles according to genetically defined groups. These distinct cytokine profiles could be used to define disease resistance phenotypes in dairy cows according to stimulation in vitro; however, other immune response phenotypes should be assessed.

Antecedents of work-family conflict among Egyptian civil workers.

AIM: Previous studies have suggested variable levels of associations between work-family conflict (W_F_C) and its antecedents in different populations. We aimed to assess the antecedents of this conflict and its two types; work-to-family (WFC) and family-to-work (FWC) among Egyptian civil workers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a convenience sample of 3134 Egyptian civil workers, we assessed the W_F_C using the National Study of Midlife Development in the US and attributed it, by logistic and linear regression analyses, to several sociodemographic, work/family situational, behavioral, and health-related variables which were collected by a questionnaire survey between October 2019 and January 2020. RESULTS: W_F_C was prevalent in 56% of the sample (51% for WFC and 62% for FWC). The work and family situational factors were the most significant antecedents of the W_F_C and its two types; partial R 2 was 0.71. Both the health-related and behavioral clusters of antecedents were also predictors of W_F_C, while the sociodemographic antecedents contributed minimally to the FWC. The multivariable odds ratios (95% CIs) for high W_F_C in those with high vs low work demands, job control, social support at work, and family were 4.11 (2.89-7.03), 0.0 (0.66-0.90), 0.86 (0.62-0.98), and 0.74 (0.59-0.94), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Work and family situational factors were the most significant antecedents of the levels of W_F_C in Egyptian civil workers. The Egyptian authorities could reduce the civil workers' W_F_C by improving the work environment, finding ways to relieve the workload demands, and helping the civil workers to have more job control and social support.

Linum usitatissimum seeds oil down-regulates mRNA expression for the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and Cyp11A1 genes, ameliorating letrezole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in a rat model.

The safety and effectiveness of nutricetics suggest that they may offer an alternative to pharmaceutical and surgical therapy for hormone-dependent disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We investigated the effects of Linum usitatissimum seed oil (LSO) on ovarian functionality, its molecular targets, and the oxidative response in hyperandrogenism-induced polycystic ovary. The composition of LSO has been analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). A well-established PCOS rat model orally administered with letrozole daily for 21 days was used to investigate the effect of LSO at doses of 1 and 2 mL/kg body weight for 28 days. The effect on hormonal profile and antioxidant status, histopathology (cell proliferation), and the expression ratio of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and Cyp11A1 gene were evaluated. LSO exerted beneficial effects on PCOS rat models via restoring glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), beta subunit subunit luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone levels, and histopathological scoring. Furthermore, LSO reversed the elevated StAR and Cyp11A1 genes in the PCOS rat model. This study demonstrated the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the beneficial effect of LSO against the reproductive and metabolic disorders of PCOS.

A Micromorphic Beam Theory for Beams with Elongated Microstructures.

A novel micromorphic beam theory that considers the exact shape and size of the beam's microstructure is developed. The new theory complements the beam theories that are based on the classical mechanics by modeling the shape and size of the beam's microstructure. This theory models the beam with a microstructure that has shape and size and exhibits microstrains that are independent of the beam's macroscopic strains. This theory postulates six independent degrees of freedom to describe the axial and transverse displacements and the axial and shear microstrains of the beam. The detailed variational formulation of the beam theory is provided based on the reduced micromorphic model. For the first time, the displacement and microstrain fields of beams with elongated microstructures are developed. In addition, six material constants are defined to fully describe the beam's microscopic and macroscopic stiffnesses, and two length scale parameters are used to capture the beam size effect. A case study of clamped-clamped beams is analytically solved to show the influence of the beam's microstructural stiffness and size on its mechanical deformation. The developed micromorphic beam theory would find many important applications including the mechanics of advanced beams such as meta-, phononic, and photonic beams.

Influenza vaccination and the activities of plasma acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in institutionalised elderly patients.

Influenza immunisation was given to 30 elderly institutionalised patients (mean age 80 years) and 16 young volunteers (mean age 27 years). Blood was taken at days 0, 2, 7 and 28. Plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) activities were measured. The activities of both enzymes were lower in the elderly patients compared to the young volunteers (P<0.001); however, influenza vaccination had no effect on either enzyme, in either age group.

Synthesis and characterization of some bi, tri and tetravalent transition metal complexes of N'-(furan-2-yl-methylene)-2-(p-tolylamino)acetohydrazide HL1 and N'-(thiophen-2-yl-methylene)-2-(p-tolylamino)acetohydrazide HL2.

The tetradentate Schiff bases hydrazone ligands HL(1), HL(2) and their metal complexes have been prepared and characterized by analytical, spectral (IR, UV-vis, (1)H NMR and ESR), molar conductivity, magnetic and TGA measurements. The results show that all the metal complexes are non-electrolytes, except (2, 10 and 20) which have ionic nature. The ligands coordinate in keto-neutral form and act as bidentate or tridentate for all metal complexes, except complexes (4 and 12). The ligands react as monobasic tetradentate and tridentate for complexes (4 and 12), respectively. Octahedral/tetrahedral Co(II) and Ni(II), octahedral/square planar Cu(II), and octahedral Mn(II), Fe(III), Cr(III), Ru(III), Hf(IV) and Zr(IV)O geometries were proposed. The ESR spectra of copper complexes (12 and 14) indicate d(x2-y2) ground state with covalent bond character. The thermal decomposition and the types of crystallized water for some metal complexes were studied. The studied metal complexes are very weakly active against the tested microorganisms.

Growth of postoperative remnants of unilateral vestibular nerve schwannoma: role of the vestibular ganglion.

Histopathological examination of seven temporal bones from patients who underwent a removal of vestibular nerve schwannomas by the translabyrithine or middle fossa approaches has demonstrated small tumor remnants that failed to grow as long as 25 years after surgery. In spite of the high incidence of residual tumors, the clinical recurrence rate of tumors operated at our institution by the translabyrinthine or middle fossa approaches is low (0.3%). Immunohistochemical labeling of dividing cells demonstrated that segments of tumor adjacent to the vestibular nerve and ganglion contained more dividing cells than were present in areas of the tumor at a distance from them.