Influence of sampling technique and bedding type on the milk microbiota: Results of a pilot study.

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the influence of sampling technique and exposure to different bedding types on the milk microbiome of healthy primiparous cows. Primiparous Holstein cows (n = 20) with no history of clinical mastitis or monthly somatic cell counts >150,000 cells/mL were selected for this study. From each enrolled cow, a composite milk sample was aseptically collected from all 4 mammary quarters (individual quarter somatic cell counts <100,000 cells/mL), 1 individual quarter milk sample was collected using conventional aseptic technique, and 2 individual quarter milk samples were collected directly from the gland cistern using a needle and vacuum tube. All milk samples were cultured using standard milk microbiological techniques and DNA was extracted. Extracted DNA was subjected to PCR and next-generation sequencing for microbiota determination. All samples yielded relatively little total DNA. Amplification of PCR was successful in 45, 40, and 83% of composite, conventional, and cisternal samples, respectively. Bacteria were successfully cultured from 35% of composite milk samples but from none of the quarter milk samples collected using conventional or cisternal sampling techniques. Bacterial DNA sequences were assigned to operational taxonomic units (OTU) based on 97% sequence similarity, and bacterial richness and diversity were determined. Most samples were dominated by low-prevalence OTU and of the 4,051 identified OTU, only 14 were prevalent at more than 1% each. These included bacteria typically recovered from environmental sources. Chao richness was greatest in composite samples and was 636, 347, and 356 for composite, conventional quarter, and cisternal milk samples, respectively. Shannon diversity was similar among sample types and ranged from 3.88 (quarter) to 4.17 (composite). Richness and diversity did not differ by bedding type among cisternal samples, but the power of this pilot study was limited due to small sample size. Despite the small sample size, for milk samples collected from the gland cistern, overall bacterial community composition differed among bedding types. These results demonstrate that sampling technique and bedding type may be associated with the microbiota detected in bovine milk, and we suggest that these variables should be considered in designing and reporting studies about the milk microbiota.

Whole genome sequencing for M/XDR tuberculosis surveillance and for resistance testing.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) can help to relate Mycobacterium tuberculosis genomes to one another to assess genetic relatedness and infer the likelihood of transmission between cases. The same sequence data are now increasingly being used to predict drug resistance and susceptibility. Controlling the spread of tuberculosis and providing patients with the correct treatment are central to the World Health Organization's target to 'End TB' by 2035, for which the global prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis remains one of the main obstacles to success. So far, WGS has been applied largely to drug-susceptible strains for the purposes of understanding transmission, leaving a number of analytical considerations before transferring what has been learnt from drug-susceptible disease to drug-resistant tuberculosis. We discuss these potential problems here, alongside some of the challenges to characterizing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 'resistome'-the optimal knowledge-base required for WGS-based assays to successfully direct individualized treatment regimens through the prediction of drug resistance and susceptibility in the future.

The identification and differential expression of calcium-binding proteins associated with ocular melanoma.

Calcium-binding proteins may endow tumor cells with properties related to their malignancy and metastatic phenotype. Chromatographic procedures and amino acid sequence analysis were used in this study to identify seven calcium-binding proteins, annexin VI, cap g, annexin V, calmodulin, S100A11, S100B and S100A6, associated with uveal melanoma, the primary ocular tumor of adults. This series of calcium-binding proteins was identified in both primary tumors and cell lines of uveal melanoma. Several of the proteins were shown by immunochemical methods to be differentially expressed between normal uveal melanocytes and malignant melanomas of the uvea. In addition, the expression of S100A6 may correlate with the malignant properties of the tumor.

Induction of macrophage suppressor activity by fibrosarcoma-derived transforming growth factor-beta 1: contrasting effects on resting and activated macrophages.

Tumor-derived transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) suppresses several immune responses. Because tumor growth induces macrophage (m phi) suppressor activity, we determined whether murine fibrosarcoma-derived TGF-beta 1 contributed to m phi-mediated suppression of autoantigen- and alloantigen-stimulated T cell proliferation. The murine fibrosarcoma Meth-KDE cell line constitutively produced TGF-beta 1. Meth-KDE tumor-bearing host (TBH) syngeneic splenic m phi s suppressed autoantigen- and alloantigen-stimulated normal host (NH) CD4+ T cell proliferation. Pretreatment with Meth-KDE supernatants induced NH m phi s to suppress T cell proliferation as much as TBH m phi s. Anti-TGF-beta 1 antibody treatment reversed Meth-KDE-induced NH m phi-mediated suppression. Recombinant TGF-beta 1-induced m phi-mediated suppression was not blocked during inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), or TGF-beta 1 production. However, Meth-KDE-induced m phi-mediated suppression was partly reduced when PGE2 production was inhibited. Pretreatment with tumor cell-derived TGF-beta 1, but not recombinant TGF-beta 1, increased activated m phi PGE2 production. These results show that additional tumor-derived molecules aid in TGF-beta 1-enhanced PGE2 production. Also, TGF-beta 1 alone up-regulates m phi synthesis of suppressor molecules that are different from PGE2, NO, and TGF-beta 1. Although TGF-beta 1 has direct suppressor activity on lymphocytes, these results show that release of tumor cell TGF-beta 1 also induces m phi suppressor activity.

Cytokines and suppressor macrophages cause tumor-bearing host CD8+ T cells to suppress recognition of allogeneic and syngeneic MHC class II molecules.

Quantitative and qualitative tumor-associated changes in T cell phenotype and function were identified in CD8+ T cells. Tumor growth changed splenic CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios and induced the appearance of more cells with the CD8+ phenotype. In comparison to equal concentrations of normal host (NH) counterparts, tumor-bearing host (TBH) CD8+ T cells were highly suppressive to allorecognition and autorecognition. Suppression was not due to quantitative reductions in CD4+ T cells, although minor qualitative differences were observed. Suppression appeared to be mediated partly by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) contributed to TBH CD8+ T cell-mediated suppression. Blocking studies using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) in conjunction with indomethacin suggested that cytokine networks involving IFN-gamma, IL-4, and PGE2 were disrupted during tumor growth and promoted TBH CD8+ T cell suppression. Alloresponses and autoresponses were significantly suppressed when TBH CD8+ T cells mediated these reactions simultaneously with TBH Ia- macrophages. Inhibition of PGE2 production was unable to reverse the additive suppression caused by these two cell types. These results collectively suggest that tumor-induced changes in CD8+ T cells lead to suppressed allo-recognition and autorecognition through both soluble mediator molecules and cellular interactions.

Macrophages stimulated by receptor-ligand interactions exhibit differences in cell-cycle kinetics during tumor growth: stimulation at Mac-1 and Mac-3 receptors alters DNA synthesis.

Phenotypic and functional changes associated with tumor-bearing host (TBH) macrophages (M phi) are partly responsible for immunosuppression during tumor growth. Flow cytofluorometric analyses revealed differences in cell-cycle kinetics between normal host (NH) and TBH M phi that were stimulated at specific receptors. Receptor-ligand interactions were induced by antibodies against Mac-1, -2, -3, and Ia receptors and changes in DNA synthesis were measured over a 12-h time course by incorporation of propidium iodide. TBH M phi showed higher DNA synthesis than NH M phi over this time course irrespective of the receptor induced. NH M phi stimulated at the Mac-1 receptor demonstrated higher DNA synthesis than control NH M phi although TBH M phi stimulated at this receptor and control TBH M phi failed to show any differences. Both NH and TBH M phi exhibited small, short-term decreases in DNA synthesis when stimulated at the Mac-2 receptor. TBH M phi that were stimulated at the Mac-3 receptor demonstrated higher DNA synthesis than their control counterparts while NH M phi stimulated at this receptor and control NH M phi showed identical levels of DNA synthesis. No differences in DNA synthesis were found among normal or TBH M phi that were stimulated through Ia. Differences in DNA synthesis did not appear to be attributable to differences in receptor expression. Further analysis of Mac-1 and Mac-3 stimulated cells revealed that DNA synthesis in NH M phi stimulated at the Mac-1 receptor returned to control levels at 48 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tumor growth changes the contribution of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor during macrophage-mediated suppression of allorecognition.

Tumor-bearing host (TBH) macrophages (M phi) suppress T cell alloresponses, and this study suggests granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a molecule associated with suppressive M phi activity during tumor growth, signals more immunosuppression. In the absence of M phi, GM-CSF increased T cell proliferation in response to alloantigen. However, TBH M phi-mediated suppression of allorecogntion was further induced by GM-CSF. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) cultures, containing normal host (NH) M phi, were either unaffected or enhanced. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a highly suppressive monokine that decreases alloreactivity, did not seem to be involved in the suppression caused by the TBH M phi/GM-CSF interaction. M phi-CSF (M-CSF) addition to cultures did not reverse the suppression caused by TBH M phi and GM-CSF, and inhibition of PGE2 synthesis did not change the response to M-CSF. TBH Ia- M phi, a suppressor population that predominates among splenic M phi during tumor growth, demonstrated significantly lower reactivity in the presence of GM-CSF. In contrast, alloresponses suppressed by NH Ia- M phi demonstrated higher reactivity in the presence of GM-CSF. The data collectively suggest that TBH M phi respond differently to GM-CSF, and that tumor-induced changes in GM-CSF responsiveness affect M phi accessory ability.

Monitoring expression of HER-2 on circulating epithelial cells in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Nineteen breast cancer patients with measurable metastatic disease who were starting an initial or new line of therapy were evaluated for circulating epithelial cells (CECs) a minimum of 4 times over the course of treatment. In 7 of the 10 CEC+ patients, HER-2 expression was detected on the CECs. CECs expressing HER-2 varied among patients and in serial samples from the same patient including a shift from HER-2- to HER-2+ CECs. These results demonstrate that it is possible to quantify receptors essential for rationally designed therapy using CECs and that reliance on the immunophenotype of the primary tumor can be misleading.

Tumor growth changes responsiveness to and production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor during recognition of self MHC class II molecules.

Tumor growth decreases T-cell recognition of self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules by inducing changes in splenic macrophage (M phi) phenotype and function. The current investigation shows tumor-induced alterations in autorecognition also are associated with changes in responsiveness to and production of granulocyte-M phi colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In contrast to normal host (NH) M phi, tumor-bearing host (TBH) M phi failed to express higher MHC class II molecule density after exposure to GM-CSF. Autoreactive T cells stimulated by either NH or TBH M phi were suppressed by GM-CSF. Inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis reversed M-CSF-induced suppression of autoreactivity to NH M phi and, to a lesser extent, to TBH M phi. When TBH autoreactive T cells were stimulated by TBH M phi, autoreactivity increased when GM-CSF was added and PGE2 synthesis was inhibited. Although GM-CSF can contribute to tumor-induced suppression, it did not affect the contribution of GM-CSF during autorecognition. Increased GM-CSF production was responsible, at least in part, for the TBH M phi-mediated suppression. Low concentrations of GM-CSF were produced endogenously by tumor isolates, and GM-CSF production was significantly increased when isolates were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Autoreactive T cells stimulated solely by TBH M phi produced more GM-CSF than autoreactive T cells stimulated by NH M phi. Cultures supplemented with several concentrations of NH or TBH M phi produced similar amounts of GM-CSF in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of PGE2 synthesis by NH and TBH M phi reduced GM-CSF production equally. Collectively, these results suggest that during tumor growth, responsiveness to and production of GM-CSF alters recognition of self MHC class II molecules.

Renal length in sickle cell disease: observations from a cohort study.

Renal length has been measured by ultrasound in 237 subjects with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, 147 with sickle cell-hemoglobin C (SC) disease, and in 78 age-matched controls with a normal hemoglobin (AA) genotype. As expected, renal length increased with age in all genotypes but mean length was significantly greater in SS disease compared with SC disease (mean difference 4.3 mm after adjustment for height) and significantly greater in both genotypes than in AA controls (SS/AA difference 9.2 mm, SC/AA difference 5.0 mm after adjustment for height). Examination of relationships between renal length and some hematological indices (hemoglobin, fetal hemoglobin, reticulocyte counts, alpha thalassemia status) in SS or SC disease showed only a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin and positive correlation with reticulocyte count in SS disease. Further analysis suggested that the stronger relationship was between renal length and high reticulocyte count. The mechanism of renal enlargement is unknown although glomerular hypertrophy and increased renal blood volume are likely contributors.

The normal metacarpal index.

Normal values for the metacarpal index (MCI) in British children and adults have been determined. In infancy before the appearance of the metacarpal epiphyses the index is constant up to about two years of age (5.2 in males and 5.5 in females). During childhood the index rises to reach a peak at about 16 years, and then falls slightly during adult life. The curves produced are almost identical to those previously found in black children, and one set of values may be used for children of either ethnic origin. The left hand should be used to calculate the MCI, and the results expressed as either below the mean for age, or in terms of percentile for age above the mean. Curves are presented showing percentile values. No attempt should be made to produce a clear distinction between normal and abnormal indices, but the percentile value used in conjunction with other clinical findings in the assessment of Marfan's syndrome and other skeletal conditions associated with arachnodactyly.

Cytochrome P450 activity in control and induced long-term cultures of rat hepatocyte spheroids.

Long-term events such as enzyme induction or chronic toxicity require long-term liver culture models that maintain activity of xenobiotic metabolising enzymes. The levels of these enzyme activities and their responsiveness to chemical induction was studied in rat hepatocyte spheroids, a potential long-term hepatocyte culture model. In comparison with other long-term liver culture models, the basal metabolic activity of spheroids has not been well studied. Additionally, no existing data on the induction of CYP3A activity in spheroids could be found. The basal xenobiotic metabolising activity of rat hepatocyte spheroids was monitored over 14 days in culture, using testosterone as a probe substrate. When spheroids from days 2-14 in culture were compared to 24-h control spheroids, there was a differential maintenance of basal CYP activity. CYP2A and CYP3A activities were maintained over the culture period, while there were time-related decreases in CYP2C11 and CYP2C/CYP2B1/2 activities. The responsiveness of rat hepatocyte spheroids to chemical induction was studied following treatment with phenobarbitone (PB) or dexamethasone (DEX). PB treatment induced CYP2A, CYP2C, CYP2B1/2 and CYP3A activities. DEX treatment resulted in an induction of CYP3A and CYP2C11 activities. The results demonstrate that rat hepatocyte spheroids retained some of the liver-specific functions essential in a long-term hepatocyte culture model, thus making spheroids comparable to other long-term culture models available.

The metacarpal index in Jamaican children and adults.

The metacarpal index was measured in radiographs of the hands of 615 male and 667 female Jamaicans aged over two years. The index increased with age from two years to adulthood, and was greater in females than in males, and greater in the left hand than the right hand. Means and standard deviations of the index for the left hand are presented as standards. An index of 9.6 for males and 10.1 for females over the age of 13 years is suggested as the upper limit of normal (three standard deviations above the mean). These standards are higher than those previously reported, and are probably applicable to other black populations outside Jamaica.

The differential cytotoxicity of methotrexate in rat hepatocyte monolayer and spheroid cultures.

It is important to assess the usefulness of long-term in vitro liver models for studying chronic toxicity, since acute assays may not reflect the in vivo situation. A potential long-term hepatocyte culture (i.e. liver spheroids) was investigated and compared to primary rat hepatocyte monolayer cultures following exposure to methotrexate (MTX), a well-documented chronic hepatotoxin. Following up to 7 days' treatment with MTX, cultures were morphologically assessed and assayed for enzyme leakage, intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Spheroids maintained higher concentrations of GSH over the 14-day culture and ATP was maintained, but at a concentration not significantly different from monolayer cultures. Treatment of monolayer cultures resulted in concentration-related decreases in GSH and ATP, accompanied by enzyme leakage. In contrast, only ATP was affected following treatment of spheroids for 7 days. Spheroids appeared to be less sensitive to exposure to MTX, when compared with monolayer cultures. This may result from the maintenance of cellular functions, or from the lack of compound penetration into the three-dimensional spheroid structure. Therefore, the usefulness of spheroids to chronic in vitro toxicity testing may be limited.

The value of urography following lymphography in malignant diseases.

The need for urography following ascending pedal lymphography in malignant disease has been studied in 298 consecutive patients. Forty per cent of the urograms were abnormal. Urographic abnormalities due to the disease being investigated were heralded by abnormal lymphography except in four patients, three with carcinoma of the bladder and one with carcinoma of the cervix. The majority of abnormalities unrelated to the disease being investigated were of no significance. In a small number there was congenital malposition of the kidney so that it fell within the proposed field of treatment. It is concluded that it is unnecessary to do routine urography with every lymphogram. Indications for urography are abnormality or suspected abnormality of the lymphogram, failure to locate the kidneys on plain films and clinical indications such as carcinoma of the bladder or carcinoma of the cervix.

The metacarpal index in homozygous sickle-cell disease.

The metacarpal index (MCI) was measured in 240 patients with homozygous sickle-cell (SS) disease and in 1082 normal persons constituting a comparison group. The MCI was greater in females than in males, but there appeared to be no significant difference between genotypes. Arachnodactyly may occur in some patients with SS disease, but there is no evidence of a genotype-related increase in metacarpal index.

Modulation of thyroxine uptake and efflux in vitro by temelastine and phenobarbital in cultured hepatocytes from different species, in relation to toxicological effects on the thyroid gland.

Toxicological studies in the rat with phenobarbital and temelastine (SK&F 93944) are associated with thyroid lesions, characterized by thyroid stimulated hormone-mediated thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia. It has previously been demonstrated that these compounds enhance the hepatocellular accumulation and clearance of thyroxine (T(4)), in rat but not dog or mouse. In this study these events were further characterized in vitro using cultured hepatocytes from different species. Exposure of rat hepatocytes in vitro to phenobarbital and temelastine produced significant increases (P < 0.05) in hepatocellular [(125)I]l-thyroxine accumulation, following 3 hr of exposure to either drug (at a concentration of 10 mum), in the presence of [(125)I]T(4) (0.107 nm final concentration). At this concentration the accumulation of [(125)I]T(4) after xenobiotic exposure was 132.6 +/- 1.5% (phenobarbital) and 135 +/- 2.0% (temelastine) of control values. There was no apparent xenobiotic-induced cytotoxicity (as determined by the mitochondrial MTT index) up to 20 mum temelastine and 50 mum phenobarbital in rat hepatocytes. Experiments performed at 4 degrees C [or under conditions of cellular ATP depletion, induced by 1 mum carbonyl cyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) treatment] failed to show any such increase in hepatocellular thyroxine accumulation. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with either phenobarbital or temelastine for 3 hr before the addition of radiolabelled thyroxine produced increases in hepatocellular hormone accumulation similar to those observed when [(125)I]T(4) and drug were added to the cultures simultaneously. The earliest time at which any increase in [(125)I]T(4) accumulation was observed after drug exposure was approximately 90 min. Exposure of hepatocytes from guinea pig or beagle dog to phenobarbital or temelastine in vitro failed to produce similar increases in hepatocellular [(125)I]T(4) accumulation, demonstrating species specificity of the xenobiotic effect in vitro.

The chest radiograph in leptospirosis in Jamaica.

A consecutive series of 44 patients with proven leptospirosis was studied to document the radiographic pulmonary abnormalities, assess their prevalence, correlate them with the clinical signs and symptoms and determine their prognostic significance. Abnormalities were found in ten patients (23%), this prevalence being less than previously noted. The abnormalities shown were non-segmental opacification (consolidation-eight cases), basal linear opacities (collapse-five cases) and pleural effusions (four cases). The first radiographic demonstration of a large pleural effusion in leptospirosis is recorded. Non-jaundiced patients had a higher prevalence (43%) of these abnormalities than jaundiced (13%). No other correlation with clinical signs or symptoms was found. The presence of these abnormalities had no prognostic significance. It is concluded that the presence of radiographic pulmonary abnormality in in-patients with leptospirosis is common. These abnormalities are non-specific and can mimic other diseases leading to diagnostic difficulty. Such abnormalities may be extensive in the absence of clinical signs and symptoms.