Effect of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR 4) on Reproductive Performance and Immune Function in Dairy Cows.

In dairy cows, inflammatory diseases caused by infection with pathogenic bacteria post calving affect ovarian functions. This study examined the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), reproductive performances [the number of artificial insemination (AI) application and days open], and immune cell functions (apoptosis and migration). Two hundred Holstein cows from the Obihiro University farm were included. The SNPs of TLR4 were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood. The number of AI application in the animals with T/C genotype in the TLR4 exon3 was lower than that in animals with C/C genotype (1.6 ± 0.2 and 2.2 ± 0.2, respectively). Among the animals with TLR4 exon3 polymorphisms, the days open was shorter for the T/C cows than that for C/C cows (100.7 ± 6.9 days and 136.6 ± 9.0 days, respectively). The SNPs in the TLR4 intron did not affect the number of AI and days open. The apoptosis percentage of PMNs treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0.001 and 1 µg/ml) tended to be lower in the T/C genotype compared to that in the C/C genotype. The transmigration rates of PMNs, and IL-1ß production in PBMCs were tended to be higher for the animals with the T/C genotype compared to those for animals with the C/C genotype. Taken together, these results suggest that TLR4 polymorphisms offer a meaningful tool to judge the reproductive potential and immune activity in individual cows.

The short-term effects of soft pellets on lipogenesis and insulin sensitivity in rats.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the short-term effects of a 12-day, soft pellet (SP) diet with a 3-h restricted feeding schedule on caloric intake, body weight, lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. Glucose and insulin levels were measured pre-, mid-, and post-feeding. The SP rats exhibited postprandial hyperglycemia compared to rats fed control pellets (CP). The insulin response of SP rats during a meal was significantly higher than that of CP rats. There were no significant differences in the hepatic triacylglycerol contents and lipogenesis gene mRNA levels of SP and CP rats. However, the hepatocytes of SP rats were slightly hypertrophic. In addition, histological analysis revealed that the pancreases of SP rats had more islet areas than those of CP rats. This study demonstrated that feeding an SP-only diet for 12 days induces glucose intolerance, suggesting that the consumption of absorbable food, like a soft diet, may trigger glucose metabolism insufficiency and lead to life-threatening diseases.

Possible involvement of food texture in insulin resistance and energy metabolism in male rats.

Food texture is known to affect energy metabolism. Although feeding with soft pellets (SP) or via a tube is known to cause increases in body weight, it is unclear how different food textures influence energy metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of two different food textures on energy balance and glucose and lipid metabolism in male Wistar rats. The rats were fed SP or control pellets (CP) on a 3-h restricted feeding schedule for 14 weeks and their energy intake, body weight, and energy expenditure were examined. The levels of gastrointestinal hormones, glucose and insulin, were investigated at pre-, mid, and post-feeding. Glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests were conducted, and the expressions of molecules involved in the insulin signaling system or lipogenesis in the liver were examined. Histological investigation of pancreatic islets was carried out using anti-insulin and anti-Ki-67 antibodies. Furthermore, the expression in the liver and circulating blood of microRNA-33 (miR-33), which regulates insulin receptor substance 2, was examined. There were no significant differences in energy intake, body weight, or gastrointestinal hormone levels between the SP and CP rats; however, the SP rats showed glucose intolerance and insulin resistance with disruption of insulin signaling. Increases in lipogenic factors and miR-33 expression were also found in the SP rats. The numbers of insulin-positive areas and Ki-67-positive cells of SP rats were significantly increased. This study shows that a soft food texture causes diabetes without obesity, so differences in food texture may be an important factor in type 2 diabetes.

The effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor-α gene on reproductive performance and immune function in dairy cattle.

The present study aimed to assess the effect of polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) promoter (A/A, A/G and G/G) and exons (T/T, T/C and C/C) on immune function and reproductive performance in dairy cows. The occurrence of the first postpartum ovulation within 3 weeks in the cows with the TNF-α promoter A/G and G/G genotypes was higher than in the A/A group. Among the different TNF-α exon genotypes, the occurrence of early first postpartum ovulation was higher in the T/C and C/C genotype groups than in the T/T group. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TNF-α gene did not affect the rate of artificial insemination (AI) or duration from parturition to next conception (days open). The apoptosis rate of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) did not differ among the TNF-α promoter genotypes, but the PMN transmigration rate was significantly higher for the A/A and A/G genotypes than for the G/G genotype. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) mRNA expression in PMNs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before culture was significantly higher for the A/A genotype compared with the G/G genotype. There were no significant differences between the genotypes in the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in PMNs and PBMCs before and 4 h after culture. IL-8 and IL-1ß production by PBMCs cultured for 4 h was significantly higher for the animals with the A/A genotype than for those with the G/G genotype. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed in IL-8 and IL-1ß production by PMNs among different TNF-α genotypes. Taken together, these results suggest that SNP in the TNF-α gene affects immune function and reproductive performance in dairy cows.

[The problems associated with home care in pharmacy].

In the revision of prescribed medicinal compensation act of April 2008, it is possible for health insurance pharmacy to allocate an injection medicine and to add a medical treatment material. In addition to that, the newly established fees like "Joint guidance fee when patient is discharged from hospital", "Joint guidance fee such as an urgent home care of patients", and "Medical management guidance fee for homecare patient emergency visit", and so on, would strengthen in the home medical care. Therefore, we expect that more health insurance pharmacies will have an opportunity to participate in the home medical care business. On the other hand, there are problems associated with specific operational home medical care that are invisible from the system. We herein report the problems associated with "Home Visiting Medicinal Management Guidelines," that was performed in the last 6 months, mainly centered on home delivery expenses.