Effects of supplementation with corn distillers' dried grains on animal performance, nitrogen balance, and enteric CH4 emissions of young Nellore bulls fed a high-tropical forage diet.

The inclusion of corn-dried distillers' grains (DDG) could be an alternative supplement to increase animal performance, nitrogen efficiency usage (NEU), and decrease enteric methane (CH4) emissions. Our goal was to determine whether DDG could replace a traditional supplement (cottonseed meal) without affecting animal performance, N balance, and CH4 emissions. The experiment was conducted during the forage growing season (December to April), with 15 d adaptation, and a 112 d experimental period. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments: a mineral supplement (MS), cottonseed meal supplement (CS), 50% replacement of CS by DDG (50DDG), and 100% replacement of CS by DDG (100DDG). Cottonseed meal and DDG were used as protein supplement. A total of 12 paddocks, 3 per treatment, were used to measure forage mass: morphological and chemical composition of forage, forage allowance, and animal performance. Six animals per treatment were used to evaluate DM intake, digestibility, CH4 emissions, microbial protein production (MCP), and NEU of each treatment. Eighty-one Young Nellore bulls (48 testers, 12 per treatments and 33 adjusters) with initial BW of 255 ±â€¯5 kg (10-12 months old) were supplemented with each supplement type at a level of 0.3% of BW. Pasture management was continuous stocking with a variable stocking rate (put-and-take). Enteric CH4 was measured using the gas tracer technique. The MCP was quantified using purine derivatives and the NEU mass balance. No differences were found in nutrient intake (P > 0.228). Individual animal performance and gain per area were higher in the treatments with concentrates compared with that of MS; however, there was no difference among treatments CS, 50DDG, and 100DDG. The ADG was 0.83 for MS and 1.08 kg/animal/d when supplemented (P < 0.05). Gain per hectare was 709 kg/ha for MS and 915 kg/ha when supplemented with concentrates (P < 0.05). There was no difference in CH4 production among treatments that average 180 g/animal/d; however, CH4 per kg of gain was reduced with CS. The CH4 conversion factor averaged 5.91%. There was no difference in the synthesis of MCP and NEU. Corn DDG can replace 100% of cottonseed meal as a protein source for supplementation of young Nellore bulls grazing in tropical pastures without affecting animal performance, NEU, MCP, and CH4 emissions.

Sward structure and ingestive behavior of cows in tropical pastures managed under different forage allowances / Estrutura do dossel forrageiro e comportamento ingestivo de vacas em pastos tropicais manejados sob diferentes ofertas de forragem

This study evaluated how changing the structure of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pasture under different forage allowances (FA) of 4, 7, 10 and 13kg DM/100kg BW (body weight) affected animal behavior over a two-year evaluation period. The experiment was conducted as a randomized block design with three replications (paddock). Sward height, total forage, and stem mass were lower for pastures managed with lower FA. Lower leaf mass was observed for lower FA in the second year. In hand-plucked samples, leaf and stem percentages remained unchanged in the morning but leaf percentage increased while stems decreased in the afternoon. Permanence time decreased linearly with increasing FA. In turn, a quadratic effect was observed for displacement rate. The bite rate was similar among different FAs. The results demonstrate that FA varying between 7 and 10kg DM/100kg BW are more suitable to balance the amounts of leaves and stems in the sward. The studied FA levels do not limit forage availability. Permanence time decreases and displacement rate increases as FA increases.(AU)

O objetivo foi avaliar como mudanças na estrutura de pastos de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, sob diferentes ofertas de forragem (OF) de 4, 7, 10 e 13kg MS/100kg PC, afetam o comportamento animal durante um período de avaliação de dois anos. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições (piquetes). A altura do dossel, a massa de forragem total e de colmos foram menores em pastos manejados com menores OF. A menor massa de folhas foi observada na menor OF no segundo ano. Nas amostras de pastejo simulado, as porcentagens de folhas e colmos não diferiram pela manhã, mas a porcentagem de folhas aumentou, enquanto a de colmos diminuiu à tarde. O tempo de permanência dos animais diminuiu linearmente com o aumento das OF. Efeito quadrático foi observado para taxa de deslocamento. A taxa de bocados foi similar entre as OF. Os resultados demonstram que variar as OF entre 7 e 10kg MS/100kg PC é mais adequado para balancear as quantidades de folhas e colmos no dossel forrageiro. Os níveis de OF estudados não limitam a forragem disponível. O tempo de permanência diminuí e a taxa de deslocamento aumenta com o aumento das OF.(AU)

Can the Local Health Unit staff serve as role model for positive health behaviours? Results from an observational study in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyles as well as health behaviors and attitudes are a matter of personal health and a public health concern for healthcare providers. The aims of the study were to examine lifestyles and health behaviors - i.e., smoking habit, diet, predisposition to undergo for cancer screening tests among the staff of a Local Health Unit in Rome and the prevalence of some of the major preventable chronic degenerative pathologies associated to lifestyles. METHODS: The survey was carried out through the administration of a questionnaire. Descriptive and univariate analyses were performed and binary logistic regression models were used to identify possible associations with an unhealthy lifestyles. Hosmer-Lemeshow test was performed. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: 355 employees entered the study (87,8%); 43.4% resulted in overweight/obesity and 36.6% is a current smoker. Those with a high degree of studies had an higher odds to be smokers (for low education OR=0.76; 95% CI:0,61-0.94) and healthcare workers were less likely to follow an unhealthy diet than administrative staff (OR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.29-0.91). CONCLUSION: Despite the Local Health Unit employees have, in the specific context of their workplace, an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles, in our survey they show unhealthy habits and lifestyles.

Modificações na estrutura vertical de pastos de capim-xaraés sob lotação intermitente por bovinos / Changes in the vertical structure of xaraés palisadegrass pastures under intermittent stocking by cattle

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos dos índices de área foliar residual (IAFr), dos anos de avaliação e dos ciclos de pastejo sobre as modificações na estrutura vertical do dossle, bem como a proporção de componentes morfológicos de pastos capim-xaraés submetidos a intensidades de pastejo, durante dois verões. O experimento foi conduzido na Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinária da Unesp, Câmpus de Jaboticabal, SP, e as intensidades de pastejos foram definidas por IAFr: 0,8; 1,3; 1,8 e 2,3. Quando o dossel interceptou 95% da luz incidente, os animais foram colocados no piquete para o pastejo e permaneceram até o IAFr alvo ser alcançado. Os pastejos foram realizados por vacas da raça Holandesa (Bos taurus taurus L.) não lactantes, com peso corporal médio de 450kg±50kg, utilizando-se a técnica de mob-stocking. Foram avaliadas a proporção de componentes morfológicos dos pastos e a estrutura vertical do dossel pelo aparelho de ponto inclinado. Índices de área foliar residual de 1,3 a 1,8 são os que melhores respostas apresentam em relação à estrutura vertical do dossel e à proporção dos componentes morfológicos de pastos de capim-xaraés submetidos a intensidades de pastejo.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of residual leaf area index (rLAI), years of evaluation and grazing cycles in the vertical structure of the canopy and the proportion of morphological components of xaraés palisadegrass pastures submitted to grazing intensities in two summers. The experiment was carried out at the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinária of Unesp, Campus of Jaboticabal, SP and the intensities of grazing were defined by four rLAI: 0.8, 1.3, 1.8 and 2.3. When the canopy intercepted 95% of incident light, the animals were placed on the pasture for grazing and kept until the rLAI target had been reached. Pastures were grazed by non-lactating Holstein cows (Bos taurus taurus L.) using the mob-stocking technique. the proportion of the morphological components of the pasture and the vertical structure of the canopy by the inclined point device was evaluated. Residual leaf area index from 1.3 to 1.8 are the best in relation to the vertical structure of the canopy and proportion of the morphological components of the pasture submitted to grazing intensities.

Non-coding VMA21 deletions cause X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy.

X-linked Myopathy with Excessive Autophagy (XMEA) affects proximal muscles of the lower extremities and follows a progressive course reminiscent of muscular dystrophy. It is caused by mutations in VMA21 whose protein product assembles lysosomes' proton pumps. All XMEA mutations to date have been single-nucleotide substitutions that reduce VMA21 expression, which leads to modest lysosomal pH increase, the first step in the disease's pathogenesis. We now report a new class of XMEA mutations. We identified two VMA21 non-coding microdeletions, one intronic (c.54-16_54-8del), the other in the 3'UTR (c.*13_*104del). Both resulted in a relatively more severe (early ambulation loss), diffuse (extra-ocular and upper extremity involvement), and early (neonatal) onset disease compared to previously reported patients. Our cases highlight the importance of including non-coding regions of VMA21 in genetic testing panels of dystrophies and myopathies. Specific diagnosis of XMEA will be particularly important as therapies aimed at correcting the modest rise in lysosomal pH at the root of this disease are developed.

Novel POMGNT1 point mutations and intragenic rearrangements associated with muscle-eye-brain disease.

Congenital muscular dystrophies due to defects in genes encoding proteins involved in α-dystroglycan (α-DG) glycosylation are a heterogeneous group of muscle disorders variably associated with central nervous system and eye abnormalities. One of the more severe is muscle-eye-brain disease (MEB). Mutations in genes coding for proven or putative glycosyltransferases (POMT1, POMT2, POMGnT1, fukutin, FKRP, and LARGE), the DPM3 gene encoding a DOL-P-Man synthase subunit, and the DAG1 gene encoding α-dystroglycan, have been associated with altered α-DG glycosylation. We report new POMGnT1 mutations and evaluate protein expression in 3 patients and 2 foetuses with variably severe MEB features. We identify two new point mutations (c.643C>T, c.1863delC), one new intragenic rearrangement (deletion of exons 2-8), and a new intron retention (between exons 21 and 22) resulting from a known point mutation c.1895+1G>T. Our study provides further evidence that rearrangements of the POMGnT1 gene are relatively common. Importantly, if heterozygous, they can be missed on standard genomic DNA sequencing. POMGNT1 protein analysis in 3 patients showed that the severity of the phenotype does not correlate with protein expression. Cerebral MRI is important for identifying MEB and α-dystroglycanopathy phenotypes in children and foetuses, and hence for directing the genetic analysis.

Burning mouth syndrome: is acupuncture a therapeutic possibility?

BACKGROUND: Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic pathology of unknown ethiopathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture can produce a reduction of the burning sensation by influencing the oral microcirculation. METHODS: Thirty patients (10 male and 20 female; mean age +/- SD = 65.4 +/- 2.17) and 30 healthy subjects (10 male and 20 female; mean age +/- SD = 62.06 +/- 6.72) were recruited for the study. The patients were treated with acupunctural techniques based on traditional Chinese medicine. Microcirculation was observed in vivo using videocapillaroscopy at three different times: t(0)) in the absence of acupuncture; t(1)) 1 minute after the insertion of the needles; and t(2)) 5 minutes after the insertion of the needles and following their stimulation. RESULTS: The capillaroscopic observation revealed a significant increase of the capillary tortuousness and density, a reduction of the arborescence and a reduction of burning sensation in such patients. CONCLUSION: The study shows that acupuncture influences oral microcirculation, resulting in a significant variation of the vascular pattern to which is associated a significant reduction of the burning sensation after three weeks of therapy. Such reduction of the burning sensation has been permanent for the 18 months following the acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture appears a valid therapeutic choice in the management of such patients.

Degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca, da proteína bruta e da fração fibrosa de silagens de milho, de sorgo e de Brachiaria brizantha / Ruminal degradability of dry matter, crud protein, and fiber fraction of silages of corn, sorghum, and Brachiaria brizantha

Avaliou-se a degradação da matéria seca (MS), da proteína bruta (PB), da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), da fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e da hemicelulose das silagens de milho, de sorgo e de Brachiaria brizantha. Foram utilizados três novilhos Nelore, machos, fistulados no rúmen, com média de peso de 200kg. Em cada animal foram incubadas amostras das três silagens nos tempos de 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 e 96 horas. Para as degradabilidades potencial e efetiva da MS (taxa de passagem no rúmen de 5 por cento/h), a silagem de milho foi a que apresentou valores mais altos, 80,1 e 56,7 por cento, respectivamente, seguida da silagem de sorgo, 73,0 e 45,3 por cento, e da silagem de Brachiaria, 60,8 e 33,7 por cento. Para a PB, o maior valor de degradabilidade foi verificado para a silagem de milho, 87,0 por cento, seguida das silagens de sorgo, 81,8 por cento, e de Brachiaria, 75,2 por cento. A degradabilidade da FDN foi maior para as silagens de milho e sorgo. Para FDA, a silagem de sorgo apresentou perfil de degradação menor que a silagem de milho. Os resultados sugerem melhor qualidade da silagem de milho, seguida pela do sorgo e pela de Brachiaria.

The experiment evaluated the degradation of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and hemicellulose of silages of corn, sorghum and Brachiaria brizantha. Three steers averaging 200kg bw were rumen fistulated. In each animal, the three silages were incubated for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours. For the potential degradability and the effective degradability (passage rate 5 percent/h) the corn silage presented the highest values, 80.1 and 56.7 percent, respectively, followed by the sorghum silage (73.0 and 45.3 percent), and the Brachiaria silage (60.8 and 33.7 percent). For CP, the highest degradability value was also verified for the corn silage (87.0 percent), followed by the sorghum silage (81.8 percent), and Brachiaria silage (75.2 percent). For NDF, the highest degradability values were also verified for the corn and sorghum silages. However, for ADF, the sorghum silage presented degradation profile lower than the corn silage. The results suggest a better quality of the corn silage, followed by sorghum and Brachiaria silages.

The effect of acupuncture on oral microcirculation in healthy volunteers: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: acupuncture is a therapeutic technique currently used in the treatment of many pathologies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effect of acupuncture on "in vivo" variations in oral microcirculation in healthy subjects. METHODS: an exploratory study was conducted on 40 healthy subjects: 20 cases (mean 55.90, SD 16.04) and 20 controls (mean 51, SD 11.91). Videocapillaroscopy was used to detect variations in oral microcirculation. This method permits an accurate and non-invasive in vivo study of the capillaries of the oral mucous. The site selected for this pilot study is the lower lip since it is the simplest to investigate and is more readily accessible. Assessments were carried out in three phases: t(0) before the application of the needles; t(1) one minute after the application; t(2) five minutes after the application; similar time points were used for the control group. Data were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: the study showed characteristic changes in oral microcirculation induced by acupuncture. The tortuousness of capillary loops and in the diameter of the afferent loop changed significantly (p<0.05) over time in the acupuncture group but not in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: the findings lend support to our expectation that acupuncture may generate significant variations in oral microcirculation in healthy adults. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and evaluate the therapeutic role of acupuncture in oral pathologies.

Congenital muscular dystrophies with defective glycosylation of dystroglycan: a population study.

BACKGROUND: Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) with reduced glycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan (alpha-DG) are a heterogeneous group of conditions associated with mutations in six genes encoding proven or putative glycosyltransferases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of mutations in the six genes in the Italian population and the spectrum of clinical and brain MRI findings. METHODS: As part of a multicentric study involving all the tertiary neuromuscular centers in Italy, FKRP, POMT1, POMT2, POMGnT1, fukutin, and LARGE were screened in 81 patients with CMD and alpha-DG reduction on muscle biopsy (n = 76) or with a phenotype suggestive of alpha-dystroglycanopathy but in whom a muscle biopsy was not available for alpha-DG immunostaining (n = 5). RESULTS: Homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations were detected in a total of 43/81 patients (53%), and included seven novel variants. Mutations in POMT1 were the most prevalent in our cohort (21%), followed by POMT2 (11%), POMGnT1 (10%), and FKRP (9%). One patient carried two heterozygous mutations in fukutin and one case harbored a new homozygous variant in LARGE. No clear-cut genotype-phenotype correlation could be observed with each gene, resulting in a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes. The more severe phenotypes, however, appeared to be consistently associated with mutations predicted to result in a severe disruption of the respective genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data broaden the clinical spectrum associated with mutations in glycosyltransferases and provide data on their prevalence in the Italian population.

Evaluation of labial microvessels in Sjogren syndrome: a videocapillaroscopic study.

UNLABELLED: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by a progressive lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, especially salivary and lachrymal ones, leading to xerostomia, parotid gland enlargement, and xerophtalmia. SS may occur alone (primary) or in association with almost any of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases (secondary), the most frequent being rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study is to describe the capillaroscopic pattern of the labial mucosa in patients with SS. METHODS: A total of 20 patients affected by SS and 20 healthy controls were examined. The patients with conditions that compromise microcirculation, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia or some pharmacological treatments, were not included in the study. All the patients were non-smokers. Labial capillaroscopy has been used to investigate the features of microcirculation. Visibility, course, tortuosity, as well as the possible presence of microhemorrhage, the average calibre of the capillary loops and the number of visible capillary loops per square millimetre were evaluated for each patient. RESULTS: The results show evident alterations in the capillaries and a typical conformation of the labial microcirculation in SS patients. CONCLUSION: Labial microcirculation alterations occur in SS patients. The study of the microcirculation in autoimmune pathology such as SS could provide new understanding on the dynamics of the pathology and could help to complete the diagnosis.

Correlation of " in vivo" microcirculation and degeneration of the basal cells of the epithelium in lingual lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus is an inflammatory chronic disease with an autimmune pathogenesis and unknown etiology that affects oral mucosa, with or without the involvement of the skin and other mucous membranes. The principal histological characteristics are the degeneration of the basal cell layer and the abnormal infiltration of inflammatory cells into the subepithelial layer of connective tissue. OBJECTIVES: This study is aimed to appraise if lingual lichen planus (LLP) is sustained by alteration of the oral microcirculation and if this abnormal vascularisation increases the degeneration of basal keratinocytes and the disruption of the basement membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with a histological diagnosis of LLP with higher degree of degeneration of the basement membrane, fifteen LLP patients with lower degree of basement membrane (BM) degeneration and fifteen healthy patients were included in the study. The microcirculation of the left margin of the lingual mucosa of all the patients and subjects was analysed with the videocapillaroscopy. The following parameters were analyzed on each capillaroscopic image: c0 apillary loop length, loop diameter, and capillary density. The results obtained by videocapillaroscopy software were subjected to statistical analysis using Mann Whitney U-test (P < 0.001). Statistical analysis was performed using PAST software, v. 1.53. RESULTS: Capillary density, loop length, and total diameter showed statistically significant differences between LLP patients with histologically lower degree of BM degeneration and healthy subjects and a meaningful significant difference between LLP patients with higher degree of BM degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: A remarkable increase in capillary density was showed by videocapillaroscopic exam. The increased value of the density could be associated with angiogenesis mechanism and it could be an indicator of the evolutionary condition of LLP. Videocapillaroscopy may be useful for the evaluation of the evolution or regression of the disease.

POMT1 and POMT2 mutations in CMD patients: a multicentric Italian study.

Mutations in POMT1 and POMT2 genes were originally identified in Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS) and subsequently reported in patients with milder phenotypes characterised by mental retardation with or without brain abnormalities and without ocular malformations. As part of a multicentric Italian study we screened the POMT1 and POMT2 genes in 61 congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) patients with alpha-dystroglycan reduction on muscle biopsy and/or clinical and radiological findings suggestive of the known forms of CMD with alpha-dystroglycan deficiency. The aim of the study was to establish how frequently mutations in POMT1 and POMT2 occur in CMD patients in the Italian population and to evaluate the spectrum of associated phenotypes. Thirteen patients showed mutations in POMT1 and five harboured mutations in POMT2, accounting for a total of 20 different mutations, eight of which were novel (two in POMT1 and six in POMT2). Normal brain MRI associated with mental retardation and microcephaly was the most frequent finding in patients with mutations in POMT1 (six out of 13), but was also found in a patient with POMT2 mutations. Predominant cerebellar hypoplasia was also frequent both in patients with POMT1 (three out of 13) and POMT2 (three out of 5) mutations. A MEB phenotype with frontal cortical dysplasia and pons abnormalities was found in two patients with POMT1 and in one with POMT2 mutations, while a WWS phenotype was only found in a case with mutations in POMT1. Mutations causing frameshifts and stop codons were responsible for the more severe phenotypes. Our results provide further evidence that, as previously reported for FKRP, the array of mutations in POMT1 and POMT2 is ample and the spectrum of associated phenotypes is wider than initially thought.

Altered extracellular matrix transcript expression and protein modulation in primary Duchenne muscular dystrophy myotubes.

Extent of muscle fibrosis contributes to disease severity in muscular dystrophies. To investigate whether extracellular matrix (ECM) components contribute to the severe fibrosis observed in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) skeletal muscle, we quantitated several ECM components (transcripts and proteins) in primary DMD and control myotube cultures. We evaluated the fibrogenic transforming growth factor- beta1 (TGF-beta1); the small pleiotropic proteoglycan decorin, involved in collagen fibrillogenesis and TGF-beta1 modulation; metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9; tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1, 2 and 3; collagens I and VI; and the tissue factor myostatin that inhibits muscle growth. Dystrophic myotube cultures had significantly lower levels of decorin mRNA, as also observed in DMD muscle biopsies, and significantly higher levels of TGF-beta1, myostatin, and collagens I and VI. MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 transcript levels were also significantly increased in DMD, but MMP-9 and TIMP-3 transcripts were unchanged. By zymography, MMP-2 activity was significantly higher in DMD than control. Protein levels were similar in DMD and controls but myostatin protein was significantly increased in DMD. We have found that transcript expression and protein modulation of several ECM components is altered in DMD muscle cells in vitro, indicating that these cells contribute fundamentally to the pathological process, since the inflammation and degeneration characterizing DMD muscle in vivo are presumably absent in culture. Our findings that myostatin-potent inhibitor of satellite cell activation and muscle renewal--is increased, and that decorin-binder and downregulator of TGFbeta1 and myostatin--is decreased, may have implications for DMD therapy to reduce muscle fibrosis.

Canine coronavirus induces apoptosis in cultured cells.

Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is widespread in dogs in several countries and causes mild enteric illness evolving to severe enteritis in young pups. In in vitro cultures canine coronaviruses generally induce extensive cell death, however nature of the events leading to cell death remains largely unknown. We analysed the induction of cytopathic effect by CCoV in a canine fibrosarcoma cell line (A-72) in order to characterize the apoptotic effect in homologous cell system. Following CCoV infection A-72 cell line, which is permissive to CCoV, showed reduced growth rate, as detected by MTT assay, a standard colorimetric assay for measuring cellular proliferation, and underwent to apoptotic death. Starting from 24h after CCoV infection, cells morphology appeared dramatically changed, with cells rounding and detachment from culture surface. Morphologic and biochemical features of apoptosis, such as blebbing of the plasma membrane, translocation of phosphatidilserine to cell surface and annexin V positive staining, nuclear fragmentation, apoptotic bodies formation and DNA laddering, were detected in CCoV-infected cells. Propidium iodide staining of infected culture indicated the appearance of hypodiploid DNA peak corresponding to apoptotic cell population. Commonly to other animal coronavirus infection caspase-3 is likely to contribute to the execution phase of apoptosis induced by CCoV in A-72 cells since we found activation of enzymatic activity as well as procaspase-3 activating cleavage. Apoptotic death of infected cells is detrimental as it causes cell and tissue destruction as well as inflammatory responses. Therefore in the case of CCoV associated gastroenteritis, apoptosis of epithelial mucosa cells may be responsible for pathology induced by CCoV infection.

[Electromagnetic interference of electronic devices in workers with AICD]. / Interferenze elettromagnetiche dei dispositivi elettronici in lavoratori portatori di AICD.

The Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators and the Pacemakers are devices that produce electric signals and consequently they are touchy to the electromagnetic interferences. This touchiness may cause a temporary or permanent device's malfunction both for short, but of high intensity, and prolonged exposures. Considered the wide diffusion in the job's environments of the technologies based on the electromagnetic waves, the aim of the study is identify the presence of electronic equipment's electromagnetic interferences in AICD bearing workers. The last aim is give to the AICD bearing workers more detailed information about the prevention of inappropriate AICD shocks.

Synthesis, assembly, and processing of the Env ERVWE1/syncytin human endogenous retroviral envelope.

Syncytin is a fusogenic protein involved in the formation of the placental syncytiotrophoblast layer. This protein is encoded by the envelope gene of the ERVWE1 proviral locus belonging to the human endogenous retrovirus W (HERV-W) family. The HERV-W infectious ancestor entered the primate lineage 25 to 40 million years ago. Although the syncytin fusion property has been clearly demonstrated, little is known about this cellular protein maturation process with respect to classical infectious retrovirus envelope proteins. Here we show that the cellular syncytin protein is synthesized as a glycosylated gPr73 precursor cleaved into two mature proteins, a gp50 surface subunit (SU) and a gp24 transmembrane subunit (TM). These SU and TM subunits are found associated as homotrimers. The intracytoplasmic tail is critical to the fusogenic phenotype, although its cleavage requirements seem to have diverged from those of classical retroviral maturation.

Cell cycle perturbation in a human hepatoblastoma cell line constitutively expressing Hepatitis C virus core protein.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major causes of chronic liver disease with the potential for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The core protein of HCV has been shown to modulate expression of various cellular genes and to influence a number of cellular functions. We investigated the effect of constitutively expressed HCV core protein on cell cycle progression in HepG2 cell line, which is derived from a differentiated human hepatoblastoma and shows biosynthetic features similar to human hepatocytes. The results indicated that stable expression of the core protein in unsynchronized HepG2 cells induced a perturbation of the cell cycle with reduced cell doubling meantime and increased S phase fraction. Increase of c-myc protein above the basal expression level was demonstrated with a significant increase of c-myc stability, as revealed by its prolonged intracellular half-life, in HepG2 expressing HCV core protein. In contrast, p53 and p21 levels were unchanged. These results suggest that HCV core protein may promote cell cycle progression in HepG2 cells possibly through increasing stability of c-myc oncoprotein. These results are in support of important role played by HCV core protein in virus-mediated pathogenesis in persistently infected hosts and in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Induction of FAS ligand expression in a human hepatoblastoma cell line by HCV core protein.

Tumour cells and virus infected cells expressing Fas ligand (FasL) can evade immune surveillance by inducing apoptosis in T cells expressing Fas. In order to characterise a possible role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein in similar mechanisms during HCV infection, we investigated Fas ligand expression and activity in a human hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2) constitutively expressing this protein. Strong FasL induction was detected by immunoblotting and flow cytometry analysis in the core expressing cell lines Hep39. In contrast, vector transfected cells or cell lines expressing HCV E1-E2 proteins did not show FasL expression. Co-cultivation experiments of Hep39 cells with a Fas-sensitive T cell line indicated that FasL induced by the core protein had apoptotic activity toward target cells. Effect of the core protein on induction of FasL promoter was further examined by co-transfection of HepG2 cells with core-bearing plasmid and a vector in which luciferase gene expression is driven by human FasL promoter. Results of the luciferase assay indicated a positive regulation of FasL promoter by the core protein. In conclusion, HCV core protein plays a role in the induction of functional FasL in hepatoblastoma cell line and apoptosis in a target T cell line expressing Fas. Similar mechanisms may contribute, in vivo, to establishment of chronic infection and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).