Propionate Affects Insulin Signaling and Progesterone Profiles in Dairy Heifers.

Emerging data highlighting gut microbiome influences on health support evaluation of how microbial fermentation end-products influence postabsorptive systems. This study aimed to investigate the effect of increased propionate status on progesterone profiles and insulin sensitivity in dairy heifers. Eleven Holstein heifers, synchronized in estrus, were assigned to one of two continuous, 5-day IV treatments: sodium propionate (PRO; n = 5) or saline (CON; n = 6). These infusions culminated in a hyperglycemic clamp with daily blood samples for an additional 7 days. Plasma propionate concentrations increased over the first 9 h in PRO heifers, then decreased until day 3 when they matched CON heifers. Maximum plasma progesterone concentrations tended to be greater in PRO heifers than CON heifers (4.19 vs 3.73 ng/mL; P = 0.087). Plateau insulin concentrations in CON animals were significantly greater than those in PRO animals (249.4 ± 25.1 vs 123.9 ± 35.8; P = 0.008) with a trend for an increased insulin sensitivity index in PRO heifers compared to CON heifers (P = 0.06). These changes in plasma propionate clearance leading to increased progesterone response and changes in insulin sensitivity suggest a role for SCFA metabolism in reproductive hormone regulation.

Impaired osteoinduction in a rat model for chronic alcohol abuse.

Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for bone fractures. Following a fracture, alcoholics have a higher risk for impaired fracture healing. However, the specific alcohol-induced defect(s) in bone healing are not known. Alcohol is a potent inhibitor of bone formation during bone growth and turnover. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of alcohol consumption on induction of new bone formation. Demineralized allogeneic bone matrix (DABM) cylinders were used to model osteoinduction in a rat model for chronic alcohol abuse. DABM cylinders, prepared from femurs and tibiae of rats fed a normal diet, were implanted into sexually mature male rats adapted to alcohol (ethanol contributed 35% of caloric intake) or control liquid diets. Food intake in the control rats was restricted to match food intake of alcohol-fed animals. The implants were recovered 6 weeks later and analyzed by histology, muCT and chemical analysis. Histological evaluation revealed a robust osteoinductive response, resulting in mature bone ossicle formation, in DABM implants in rats fed the control diet. Alcohol consumption affected bone mass and architecture of the DABM implants but not volumetric density or mineral composition. Specifically, alcohol consumption resulted in significant decreases in DABM-induced bone volume, bone volume/mg original cylinder weight, connectivity density, trabecular number and thickness, ash weight and % ash weight. There were no changes in mineral (ash) density nor in the relative amounts of calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium and zinc (microg/mg ash), indicating that alcohol consumption did not impair mineralization. Taken together, these results show that alcohol abuse resulted in decreased bone formation within the DABM implant. We conclude that reduced osteoinduction may contribute to impaired bone healing in alcoholics.

The effects of stanozolol and boldenone undecylenate on plasma testosterone and gonadotropins and on testis histology in pony stallions.

Fifty 2- to 16- yr old pony stallions were randomly assigned to one of five treatments: Group 1, controls (no treatment); Group 2, 0.55 mg/kg stanozolol weekly for 13 treatments; Group 3, 1.1 mg/kg stanozolol every 3 wk for 5 treatments; Group 4, 1.1 mg/kg boldenone undecylenate every 3 wk for 5 treatments; and Group 5, 0.55 boldenone undecylenate weekly for 13 treatments. Mean plasma testosterone levels for Groups 2, 4, and 5 were elevated over controls (P<0.01) at 2, 8, and 9 wk, respectively. Testosterone levels for ponies in Group 3 did not differ from controls (P>0.05). There were no differences in mean plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels among groups (P>0.05). Daily spermatid production per gram of testicular parenchyma (DSP/gm) in Group 5 was lower than in controls (P<0.05), whereas DSP/gm was not different among groups 1 to 4 (P>0.05). There were no differences among groups (P>0.05) in the percentage of Stage 8 tubules or relative number of Leydig cells. The mean diameter of Leydig cells was less for Group 5 than for controls (P<0.05), but was not different for Groups 1 to 3 (P>0.05).

The effect of subtalar joint posting on patellar glide position in subjects with excessive rearfoot pronation.

It has been postulated that patellar position is influenced by subtalar joint mechanics. The purpose of this study was to compare the patellar alignment observed by radiographic analysis in subjects with excessive rearfoot pronation, both pre- and post-placement of semirigid rearfoot posting. Sixteen asymptomatic patellofemoral joints were contributed from 12 female subjects (four bilaterally). The amount of subtalar joint posting each subject received was related to the amount of rearfoot pronation present. The subjects' patellofemoral joints were radiographed in full weight-bearing, tangential view, both pre- (resting calcaneal stance position) and post- (neutral calcaneal stance position) placement of the posting material. The paired t test revealed a statistically significant change in patellar positioning (medial glide) after placement of semirigid posting (p < or = .05). This finding has structural implications for utilization of orthotics in the treatment of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome with requisite excessive rearfoot pronation.

Video recall for analysis of performance by collegiate female tennis players.

Employing the Interpersonal Process Recall technique, 7 Division I college tennis players reviewed and analyzed their performance, thoughts, and feelings as they watched video tapes of themselves competing in conference matches. Analysis of the audio transcripts indicated these women identified performance strengths, weaknesses, and intervening psychological factors.

NK/T cell lymphoma of the lung: a case report and review of literature.

Primary lymphoma of the lung is rare and is usually of B cell type. Tissue samplings taken by transbronchial biopsy and computed tomographic (CT) guided needle biopsy of the right perihilar area of an elderly woman who presented with refractory pneumonia showed T cell lymphocytosis with no evidence of active infection. The patient's respiratory status rapidly deteriorated and she eventually died. Post mortem examination revealed primary pulmonary T cell lymphoma with natural killer (NK) cell features. We present what may be the first case of primary NK/T cell pulmonary lymphoma and review the literature on the subject.

The major concanavalin A-binding surface glycoprotein of Leishmania donovani chagasi promastigotes is involved in attachment to human macrophages.

Leishmania donovani, the protozoan causing visceral leishmaniasis, is an obligate intracellular parasite of mammalian macrophages. Considerable evidence has suggested that the ingestion of L. donovani promastigotes by macrophages occurs via receptors on the surface of the phagocyte. During this study, a glycoconjugate that may be involved in the receptor-mediated ingestion of L. donovani chagasi promastigotes was isolated from the parasite membrane. Octyl glucoside-soluble extracts of promastigote membranes contained a predominant doublet migrating at 60 kDa, seen by SDS-PAGE. The 60-kDa molecule was the major externally disposed promastigote surface protein labeled by 125I, and it was the major Con A-binding protein on L. donovani chagasi, as determined by Con A binding to parasite proteins transferred to nitrocellulose. Attachment of promastigotes to human monocyte-derived macrophages was inhibited by varying concentrations of the membrane extract containing both proteins, and adsorption of extracts on Con A-Sepharose resulted in both removal of the 60,000 Mr glycoprotein and loss of the ability of extracts to inhibit promastigote attachment to human macrophages. After further purification of the 60-kDa glycoprotein by gel filtration, its inhibitory activity increased 45-fold over the unpurified membrane extract. Examination of Con A blots of stationary phase promastigotes isolated from an infected hamster revealed a marked loss in the major Con A-binding glycoprotein over 4 mo in in vitro culture after isolation from the rodent host, corresponding to a loss in infectivity of the promastigotes for hamsters. The results suggest that the major Con A-binding surface glycoprotein from L. donovani chagasi promastigotes is important in attachment to human macrophages, and may be a factor in parasite virulence for a mammalian host.

Health care professionals' perceptions of seriously ill women.

Physicians, psychologists, and nurses read one of four vignettes describing a woman who had received one of four diagnoses--breast cancer, lung cancer, heart attack, or severe burn--and indicated on the Profile of Mood States (McNair, Lorr, & Droppleman, 1971) how they perceived the woman had been feeling during the past week. They then answered 10 questions about the woman's recovery and about their own anticipated behaviors while interacting with her. A number of differences emerged between professional groups in terms of their expectations for patients regardless of diagnosis. In addition, respondents held different emotional expectations for the patient, based solely on her diagnosis. These results support the need for training health care professionals to recognize psychological distress in, and appropriately refer, seriously ill women.

The major Leishmania donovani chagasi surface glycoprotein in tunicamycin-resistant promastigotes.

Two populations of Leishmania donovani chagasi promastigotes resistant to the lethal effects of tunicamycin (TM), an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation, were raised. These parasites exhibited altered patterns of glycosylation when compared to wild-type controls. In particular the major surface glycoprotein gp63 was present in membranes of one population of TM-resistant promastigotes (population 1) primarily in a deglycosylated form, which migrated at a lower Mr than wild-type gp63. The deglycosylated protein was proteolytically inactive on substrate-containing gels, in contrast to glycosylated gp63. Assays of promastigote attachment to human macrophages revealed that, despite a proposed role for gp63 protease activity in binding to macrophage receptors, population 1 TM-resistant promastigotes appeared to attach to the CR3 but not to the mannose-fucose receptor. Control promastigotes bound to both receptors. In contrast, a second population of TM-resistant promastigotes (population 2) did not produce gp63 that could be detected on immunoblots, either in a glycosylated or deglycosylated form. The latter TM-resistant promastigotes bound to neither CR3 nor the mannose-fucose receptor, suggesting that expression of gp63 might be important for promastigotes to bind to CR3. LPG was present in immunoblots of both TM-resistant and control populations suggesting this molecule might not account for the differences in attachment. Surprisingly both TM-resistant promastigote populations contained gp63 mRNA by Northern analysis in apparently equal amounts. We conclude that N-glycosylation is probably necessary for the protease function of gp63, but that neither N-glycosylation nor protease activity of gp63 is necessary for L. donovani chagasi promastigotes to bind to CR3. Furthermore the expression of gp63 protein by TM-resistant promastigotes is dependent upon postranscriptional events.

Perceiver gender and patient diagnosis: two aspects of perceptions of medical patients.

Subjects (N = 202) read one of four descriptions of a seriously ill woman and then completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) as they thought she would complete it. The four descriptions were identical except that the patient was described alternately as having breast cancer, lung cancer, heart attack, or severe burns over her chest area. Data were analyzed in terms of perceiver gender and patient diagnosis. Women respondents perceived the patient as more angry or hostile and as having more total mood disturbance than men respondents. Breast cancer patients were perceived as more confused or bewildered than lung cancer patients. Cancer patients were generally perceived as more fatigued and confused than noncancer patients. Results are discussed in terms of their utility to health caregivers, who need to be aware that such biases may possibly exist in the patients themselves and in their support networks, and they may ultimately be detrimental to the patient's recovery.

Expression of the major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania donovani chagasi in virulent and attenuated promastigotes.

Using both hamster and mouse models of infection, we documented that the virulence of Leishmania donovani chagasi promastigotes decreases over time, when parasites are maintained in long term culture after isolation from an infected animal. Concomitant with this loss of virulence is a marked decrease in amount of the major promastigote surface glycoprotein, gp63, present in promastigotes. The latter was shown by a decrease in binding of polyclonal anti-gp63 serum to attenuated (cultivated long term) as compared to virulent (recently isolated) promastigotes, using immunofluorescence and Western blot assays. Binding of Con A to promastigote glycoproteins, separated by SDS-PAGE, documented a similar decrease. An alteration in the mechanism of promastigote attachment to macrophages was also noted: purified gp63 inhibited attachment of virulent promastigotes to human monocyte-derived macrophages, but it did not affect the attachment of attenuated promastigotes. Northern blot analysis showed that, despite marked differences in the amount of gp63 protein, the quantity of gp63 RNA was comparable in attenuated and virulent promastigotes. However, virulent promastigotes contained two major gp63 RNA species of 3.0 and 2.7 kb, whereas attenuated promastigotes had one predominant gp63 RNA of 2.7 kb and only minor amounts of 3.0 kb RNA. Thus, the decrease in gp63 expression in attenuated, contrasted to virulent, promastigotes is associated with qualitative, but not quantitative, differences in the gp63 messenger RNA.

The effect of type of relationship on perceived psychological distress in women with breast cancer.

Participants (N = 207) read one of three descriptions of mastectomy patients and then completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) as they thought the patient would. The three descriptions were identical except for the type of relationship that the participant was asked to imagine having with the patient. A series of one-way ANOVAs indicated that people responded differently to 5 of the 6 POMS factors and the overall Index of Mood Disturbance depending upon the relationship they were asked to imagine that they had with the patient. These differences were significant. Newman-Keuls tests demonstrated the same pattern of results for each factor--those who imagined that the patient was their mother rated her as experiencing less mood disturbance than did those who imagined that she was a woman they worked with or a well-known public figure. These results suggest that people are able to recognize psychological symptoms associated with breast cancer and mastectomy but may have difficulty perceiving these symptoms in their own mothers.