Feed restriction around parturition does not affect colostrum immunoglobulin G concentration in dairy fat-tailed sheep but does affect performance and blood metabolites in newborn lambs.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of prepartum and postpartum feed restriction of fat-tailed dairy sheep on colostrum IgG concentration, and performance and blood metabolites of newborn fat-tailed lambs. Twenty fat-tailed dairy sheep were randomly allocated into control (Ctrl; n = 10) and feed restriction (FR; n = 10) groups. The Ctrl group received a diet that met 100% of energy requirements, both prepartum (from wk -5 to parturition) and postpartum (from parturition to wk 5). The FR group received a diet equivalent to 100, 50, 65, 80, and 100% of the energy requirements in wk -5, -4, -3, -2, and -1 relative to parturition, respectively. After parturition, the FR group received a diet equivalent to the 100, 50, 65, 80, and 100% of the energy requirements in wk 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. At birth, lambs were assigned to their dam's experimental group. Both the Ctrl lambs (n = 10) and the FR lambs (n = 10) were allowed to suck colostrum and milk from the dams. Colostrum samples (50 mL) were collected at parturition (0 h) and then at 1, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h postpartum. Blood samples were collected from all lambs before suckling colostrum (0 h) and then at 1, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h after birth and weekly until the end of the experimental period (i.e., wk 5 relative to birth). The data were evaluated using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). The model included feed restriction, time, and the interaction feed restriction × time as fixed effects. The individual lamb was set as a repeated subject. Variables measured in colostrum and plasma were considered dependent variables, and significance was set at P < 0.05. Prepartum and postpartum feed restriction in fat-tailed dairy sheep did not affect colostrum IgG concentration. Consequently, no differences in blood IgG concentrations were observed in the lambs. In addition, the prepartum and postpartum feed restriction experienced by fat-tailed dairy sheep caused decreased body weight and milk intake in lambs from the FR group compared with the Ctrl group. Feed restriction also promoted increased concentration of blood metabolites such as triglycerides and urea in FR lambs compared with control lambs. In conclusion, prepartum and postpartum feed restriction in fat-tailed dairy sheep did not affect either colostrum IgG concentration or blood IgG concentration of the lambs. However, prepartum and postpartum feed restriction decreased lamb milk intake and, therefore, lamb body weight gain during the first 5 wk after birth.

Elevation of blood ß-hydroxybutyrate concentration affects glucose metabolism in dairy cows before and after parturition.

Recent studies in mid- and late-lactation dairy cows showed that ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) infusion had a considerable effect on glucose metabolism and immune response during intramammary lipopolysaccharide challenge. The objective of the present study was to infuse BHB during the dry period and after parturition to investigate the effects of elevated plasma BHB concentrations on metabolism and endocrine changes in transition dairy cows. The hypothesis tested was that regulation of glucose metabolism would change at different physiological stages and an additional elevation of BHB concentration would alter glucose concentration. Multiparous Holstein cows in wk -2 (antepartum, a.p.; n = 6) and wk +2 (postpartum, p.p.; n = 8) relative to calving were infused (4 h from 0800 to 1200 h) with a BHB solution to increase plasma BHB concentration to 1.5 to 2.0 mmol/L (HyperB). The same period the next day without any infusion was considered the control period (CON). Blood samples were taken 1 h before the start of infusion as reference samples and every 30 min during the following 6 h (4 h of infusion and 2 h after infusion) in the HyperB and CON periods, and analyzed for glucose, BHB, insulin, and glucagon concentrations. During the steady state period (the latter 2 h of the 4-h infusion), plasma BHB concentration reached 1.87 ± 0.05 mmol/L (a.p.) and 1.93 ± 0.05 mmol/L (p.p.) in HyperB compared with 0.55 ± 0.06 mmol/L (a.p.) and 0.64 ± 0.04 mmol/L (p.p.) in CON, respectively. The 4-h average BHB infusion rate was 12.4 ± 1.0 and 13.3 ± 0.9 µmol/kg of BW per minute in wk -2 and +2, respectively. Infusion of BHB caused a decrease of plasma glucose concentrations relative to preinfusion levels both before and after parturition, although basal glucose concentrations were different before and after calving. Infusion of BHB increased plasma insulin concentrations a.p. but not p.p., despite a higher basal insulin concentration before than after parturition. These findings show that effects of hyperketonemia on plasma glucose concentrations are similar before and after calving but that endocrine adaptation to hyperketonemia differs before and after parturition. We assume that BHB is a metabolic key regulator in early lactating dairy cows and may affect glucose concentration by further pathways such as gluconeogenesis and altered lipolysis.

An integrated experiment for identification of best decision styles and teamworks with respect to HSE and ergonomics program: The case of a large oil refinery.

Decision making failure is a predominant human error in emergency situations. To demonstrate the subject model, operators of an oil refinery were asked to answer a health, safety and environment HSE-decision styles (DS) questionnaire. In order to achieve this purpose, qualitative indicators in HSE and ergonomics domain have been collected. Decision styles, related to the questions, have been selected based on Driver taxonomy of human decision making approach. Teamwork efficiency has been assessed based on different decision style combinations. The efficiency has been ranked based on HSE performance. Results revealed that efficient decision styles resulted from data envelopment analysis (DEA) optimization model is consistent with the plant's dominant styles. Therefore, improvement in system performance could be achieved using the best operator for critical posts or in team arrangements. This is the first study that identifies the best decision styles with respect to HSE and ergonomics factors.

Conjoint regulation of glucagon concentrations via plasma insulin and glucose in dairy cows.

Insulin and glucagon are glucoregulatory hormones that contribute to glucose homeostasis. Plasma insulin is elevated during normoglycemia or hyperglycemia and acts as a suppressor of glucagon secretion. We have investigated if and how insulin and glucose contribute to the regulation of glucagon secretion through long term (48 h) elevated insulin concentrations during simultaneous hypoglycemia or euglycemia in mid-lactating dairy cows. Nineteen Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: an intravenous insulin infusion (HypoG, n = 5) to decrease plasma glucose concentrations (2.5 mmol/L), a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp to study effects of insulin at simultaneously normal glucose concentrations (EuG, n = 6) and a 0.9% saline infusion (NaCl, n = 8). Plasma glucose was measured at 5-min intervals, and insulin and glucose infusion rates were adjusted accordingly. Area under the curve of hourly glucose, insulin, and glucagon concentrations on day 2 of infusion was evaluated by analysis of variance with treatments as fixed effect. Insulin infusion caused an increase of plasma insulin area under the curve (AUC)/h in HypoG (41.9 ± 8.1 mU/L) and EuG (57.8 ± 7.8 mU/L) compared with NaCl (13.9 ± 1.1 mU/L; P < 0.01). Induced hyperinsulinemia caused a decline of plasma glucose AUC/h to 2.3 ± 0.1 mmol/L in HypoG (P < 0.01), whereas plasma glucose AUC/h remained unchanged in EuG (3.8 ± 0.2 mmol/L) and NaCl (4.1 ± 0.1 mmol/L). Plasma glucagon AUC/h was lower in EuG (84.0 ± 6.3 pg/mL; P < 0.05) and elevated in HypoG (129.0 ± 7.0 pg/mL; P < 0.01) as compared with NaCl (106.1 ± 5.4 pg/mL). The results show that intravenous insulin infusion induces elevated glucagon concentrations during hypoglycemia, although the same insulin infusion reduces glucagon concentrations at simultaneously normal glucose concentrations. Thus, insulin does not generally have an inhibitory effect on glucagon concentrations. If simultaneously glucose is low and insulin is high, glucagon is upregulated to increase glucose availability. Therefore, insulin and glucose are conjoint regulatory factors of glucagon concentrations in dairy cows, and the plasma glucose status is the key factor to decide if its concentrations are increased or decreased. This regulatory effect can be important for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis if insulin secretion is upregulated by other factors than high glucose such as high plasma lipid and protein concentrations at simultaneously low glucose.

In vitro antifungal properties of Pistacia atlantica and olive extracts on different fungal species.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pistacia atlantica, which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, grows in the Zagrossian region of Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal properties of Pistacia atlantica and olive leaf extracts against different fungal species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we assessed the activities of olive leaf extracts and Pistacia atlantica leaf and fruit extracts against Candida species, including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei. In addition, antifungal activities against three filamentous species, i.e., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigates, were assessed, using the agar-well diffusion method. RESULTS: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of fruit and leaf extracts from Pistacia atlantica ranged 6.25-12.5 mg ml-1 and 6.25-25 mg ml-1 against the tested Candida and Aspergillus species, respectively. The olive leaf extracts showed no activity against Candida species or Aspergillus flavus, while they exhibited antifungal potency against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus (MIC: 12.5-25 mg/ml). The MICs of the mixture of selected extracts ranged from 6.25 to 25 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the ethanolic extracts of the selected plants exhibited antifungal potency against the tested fungi and could be used as natural antifungal agents.

Lower serum level of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To evaluate the serum levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies (anti-TTA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and in a control group. METHODS: Totally, 100 patients with type 2 DM and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled to study. The presence of type 2 DM confirmed according to the clinical and para-clinical criteria such as fasting plasma glucose above 126 mg/dl. A peripheral blood sample was collected from all subjects. The serum samples of participants tested for the levels of anti-TTA by ELISA method. The serum antitoxin concentration 0.1 IU/mL was considered as a protective level of antibody. RESULTS: The seroprotective rate in healthy group was significantly higher than diabetic group (99% vs. 92%; p<0.02). The mean titer of anti-TTA in healthy group (5.32 ± 0.26 IU/ml) was also significantly higher than diabetic patients (3.46 ± 0.26 IU/ml; p>0.001). In diabetic men the mean titer of anti-TTA was significantly higher in comparison to diabetic women (3.94 ± 0.34 IU/ml vs 2.59 ± 0.36 IU/ml; p<0.01). In diabetic patients the seroprotective rate and the mean titer of anti-TTA in subjects with age >40 years was also lower in comparison to those with age <40 years (89.23% vs 97.14%; p<0.15 and 4.57 ± 0.38 IU/ml vs 2.86 ± 0.32 IU/ml; P<0.002, respectively). The mean titer of anti-TTA was significantly higher in patients with diabetes duration <5 years in comparison to patients with disease duration >5 years (3.91 ± 0.35 IU/ml vs 2.85 ± 0.38 IU/ml; p<0.04). CONCLUSION: these results showed lower levels of anti-TTA in patients with type 2 DM, in diabetic women, in patients aged >40 years and in diabetic patients with disease duration >5 years.

Hyperketonemia during lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis affects systemic and local intramammary metabolism in dairy cows.

Hyperketonemia interferes with the metabolic regulation in dairy cows. It is assumed that metabolic and endocrine changes during hyperketonemia also affect metabolic adaptations during inflammatory processes. We therefore studied systemic and local intramammary effects of elevated plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) before and during the response to an intramammary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Thirteen dairy cows received intravenously either a Na-DL-ß-OH-butyrate infusion (n = 5) to achieve a constant plasma BHBA concentration (1.7 ± 0.1 mmol/L), with adjustments of the infusion rates made based on immediate measurements of plasma BHBA every 15 min, or an infusion with a 0.9% NaCl solution (control; n = 8) for 56 h. Infusions started at 0900 h on d 1 and continued until 1700 h 2 d later. Two udder quarters were challenged with 200 µg of Escherichia coli LPS and 2 udder quarters were treated with 0.9% saline solution as control quarters at 48 h after the start of infusion. Blood samples were taken at 1 wk and 2h before the start of infusions as reference samples and hourly during the infusion. Mammary gland biopsies were taken 1 wk before, and 48 and 56 h (8h after LPS challenge) after the start of infusions. The mRNA abundance of key factors related to BHBA and fatty acid metabolism, and glucose transporters was determined in mammary tissue biopsies. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma glucose, BHBA, nonesterified fatty acid, urea, insulin, glucagon, and cortisol concentrations. Differences were not different for effects of BHBA infusion on the mRNA abundance of any of the measured target genes in the mammary gland before LPS challenge. Intramammary LPS challenge increased plasma glucose, cortisol, glucagon, and insulin concentrations in both groups but increases in plasma glucose and glucagon concentration were less pronounced in the Na-DL-ß-OH-butyrate infusion group than in controls. In response to LPS challenge, plasma BHBA concentration decreased in controls and decreased also slightly in the BHBA-infused animals because the BHBA concentration could not be fully maintained despite a rapid increase in BHBA infusion rate. The change in mRNA abundance of citrate synthase in LPS quarters was significant between the 2 treatment groups. The results indicate that elevated circulating BHBA concentration inhibits gluconeogenesis before and during immune response to LPS challenge, likely because BHBA can replace glucose as an energy source.

Induced hyperketonemia affects the mammary immune response during lipopolysaccharide challenge in dairy cows.

Metabolic adaptations during negative energy and nutrient balance in dairy cows are thought to cause impaired immune function and hence increased risk of infectious diseases, including mastitis. Characteristic adaptations mostly occurring in early lactation are an elevation of plasma ketone bodies and free fatty acids (nonesterified fatty acids, NEFA) and diminished glucose concentration. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of elevated plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) at simultaneously even or positive energy balance and thus normal plasma NEFA and glucose on factors related to the immune system in liver and mammary gland of dairy cows. In addition, we investigated the effect of elevated plasma BHBA and intramammary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge on the mammary immune response. Thirteen dairy cows were infused either with BHBA (HyperB, n=5) to induce hyperketonemia (1.7 mmol/L) or with a 0.9% saline solution (NaCl, n=8) for 56 h. Two udder quarters were injected with 200 µg of LPS after 48 h of infusion. Rectal temperature (RT) and somatic cell counts (SCC) were measured before, at 48 h after the start of infusions, and hourly during the LPS challenge. The mRNA abundance of factors related to the immune system was measured in hepatic and mammary tissue biopsies 1 wk before and 48 h after the start of the infusion, and additionally in mammary tissue at 56 h of infusion (8h after LPS administration). At 48 h of infusion in HyperB, the mRNA abundance of serum amyloid A (SAA) in the mammary gland was increased and that of haptoglobin (Hp) tended to be increased. Rectal temperature, SCC, and mRNA abundance of candidate genes in the liver were not affected by the BHBA infusion until 48 h. During the following LPS challenge, RT and SCC increased in both groups. However, SCC increased less in HyperB than in NaCl. Quarters infused with LPS showed a more pronounced increase of mRNA abundance of IL-8 and IL-10 in HyperB than in NaCl. The results demonstrate that an increase of plasma BHBA upregulates acute phase proteins in the mammary gland. In response to intramammary LPS challenge, elevated BHBA diminishes the influx of leukocytes from blood into milk, perhaps by via modified cytokine synthesis. Results indicate that increased ketone body plasma concentrations may play a crucial role in the higher mastitis susceptibility in early lactation.

Long-term elevation of ß-hydroxybutyrate in dairy cows through infusion: effects on feed intake, milk production, and metabolism.

Elevation of ketone bodies in dairy cows frequently occurs in early lactation, usually concomitantly with a lack of energy and glucose. The objective of this study was to induce an elevated plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration over 48 h in mid-lactating dairy cows (i.e., during a period of positive energy balance and normal glucose plasma concentrations). Effects of BHBA infusion on feed intake, metabolism, and performance were investigated. Thirteen cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 infusion groups, including an intravenous infusion with Na-dl-ß-OH-butyrate (1.7 mol/L) to achieve a plasma concentration of 1.5 to 2.0 mmol/L of BHBA (HyperB; n=5), or an infusion of 0.9% saline solution (control; n=8). Blood was sampled before and hourly during the 48 h of infusion. In the liver, mRNA transcripts related to gluconeogenesis (pyruvate carboxylase, glucose 6-phosphatase, mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), phosphofructokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, and fatty acid synthesis (acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase) were measured by real-time PCR. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ubiquitin were used as housekeeping genes. Changes (difference between before and after 48-h infusion) during the infusion period were evaluated by ANOVA with treatment as fixed effect, and area under the curve of variables was calculated on the second day of experiment. The plasma BHBA concentration in HyperB cows was 1.74 ± 0.02 mmol/L (mean ± SE) compared with 0.59 ± 0.02 mmol/L for control cows. The change in feed intake, milk yield, and energy corrected milk did not differ between the 2 experimental groups. Infusion of BHBA reduced the plasma glucose concentration (3.47 ± 0.11 mmol/L) in HyperB compared with control cows (4.11 ± 0.08 mmol/L). Plasma glucagon concentration in HyperB was lower than the control group. All other variables measured in plasma were not affected by treatment. In the liver, changes in mRNA abundance for the selected genes were similar between 2 groups. Results demonstrate that intravenous infusion of BHBA decreased plasma glucose concentration in dairy cows, but this decrease could not be explained by alterations in insulin concentrations or key enzymes related to gluconeogenesis. Declined glucose concentration is likely functionally related to decreased plasma glucagon concentration.

Candiduria in hospitalized patients in teaching hospitals of Ahvaz.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nosocomial infections are usually acquired during hospitalization. Fungal infection of the urinary tract is increasing due to predisposing factors such as; antibacterial agents, indwelling urinary catheters, diabetes mellitus, long hospitalization, immunosuppressive agents, use of IV catheters, radiation therapy, malignancy. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of candiduria and urinary tract infection in patients admitted in Golestan and Emam Khomeini hospitals of Ahvaz, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 14 months, a total of 744 urine samples were collected and transferred to medical mycology laboratory immediately. Ten µl of uncentrifuged sample was cultured on CHROM agar Candida plates and incubated at 37°C for 24-48h aerobically. Candida species were identified based on colony morphology on CHROM agar Candida, germ tube production and micro-morphology on corn meal agar including 1% Tween 80. RESULTS: In the present study, 744 hospitalized patients were sampled (49.5%, female; 50.5%, male). The prevalence of candiduria in subjects was 16.5% that included 65.1% female and 34.9% male. The most common isolates were C. albicans (53.3%), followed by C. glabrata (24.4%), C. tropicalis (3.7%), C. krusei (2.2%), and Geotrichum spp. (0.7%) Urine cultures yielded more than 10,000 yeast colonies in 34.1% of cases, and the major predisposing factor associated with candiduria was antibiotic therapy (69.1%). CONCLUSION: Candiduria is relatively common in hospitalized patients in educational hospitals of Ahvaz. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the incidence of candiduria in hospitalized patients and broad-spectrum antibiotics therapy.