Showing papers on "Animal mortality published in 2014"

Highly crystallized iron oxide nanoparticles as effective and biodegradable mediators for photothermal cancer therapy.

Abstract: We report that highly crystallized iron oxide nanoparticles (HCIONPs) made by thermal decomposition and further coating with a polysiloxane-containing copolymer can be used as effective mediators for photothermal therapy. Irradiation of a HCIONP solution containing 0.5 mg mL−1 Fe, for instance, with an 885 nm diode laser at a power of 2.5 W cm−2, induces a temperature increase of 33 °C from room temperature, while water produced only a ∼3 °C increase as the control. In vivo studies are further evaluated for effective photothermal therapy using the as-prepared HCIONPs. Benefiting from the great antibiofouling property of the polymer coating and minimized hydrodynamic size (whole particle size: 24 nm), the nanoparticles intravenously administered to SUM-159 tumor-bearing mice can effectively accumulate within the tumor tissue (5.3% of injection dose) through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. After applying the same laser conditions to irradiate the tumors, complete tumor regression is observed within three weeks without disease relapse over the course of three months. Conversely, control mice exhibit continuous tumor growth leading to animal mortality within four weeks. To better understand the photothermal effect of HCIONPs and potentially improve their photothermal efficiency, we compare their photothermal effect and crystal structures with commercially available magnetic nanoparticles. Our data show that after applying the same laser to commercially available magnetic nanoparticles from FeREX at the same iron concentration, the temperature is only increased by 7.4 °C. We further use synchrotron-XRD and high-resolution TEM to compare the crystal structures of both magnetic nanoparticles. The data show that both magnetic nanoparticles are Fe3O4 but as-prepared HCIONPs are highly crystalline and have preferred lattice plane orientations, which may be the cause of their enhanced photothermal efficiency. Taken together, these data suggest that HCIONPs, with unique lattice orientations and small size as well as antifouling coating, can be used as promising mediators for photothermal cancer therapy.

GCN2-Dependent Metabolic Stress Is Essential for Endotoxemic Cytokine Induction and Pathology

Abstract: Activated inflammatory macrophages can express indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and thus actively deplete their own tryptophan supply; however, it is not clear how amino acid depletion influences macrophage behavior in inflammatory environments. In this report, we demonstrate that the stress response kinase GCN2 promotes macrophage inflammation and mortality in a mouse model of septicemia. In vitro, enzymatic amino acid consumption enhanced sensitivity of macrophages to the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with significantly increased interleukin 6 (IL-6) production. Tryptophan withdrawal induced the stress response proteins ATF4 and CHOP/GADD153; however, LPS stimulation rapidly enhanced expression of both proteins. Moreover, LPS-driven cytokine production under amino acid-deficient conditions was dependent on GCN2, as GCN2 knockout (GCN2KO) macrophages had a significant reduction of cytokine gene expression after LPS stimulation. To test the in vivo relevance of these findings, monocytic-lineage-specific GCN2KO mice were challenged with a lethal dose of LPS intraperitoneally (i.p.). The GCN2KO mice showed reduced inflammatory responses, with decreased IL-6 and IL-12 expression correlating with significant reduction in animal mortality. Thus, the data show that amino acid depletion stress signals (via GCN2) synergize with proinflammatory signals to potently increase innate immune responsiveness.

Characterization of a novel necrotic granuloma model of latent tuberculosis infection and reactivation in mice.

Abstract: We sought to develop and characterize a novel paucibacillary model in mice, which develops necrotic lung granulomas after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Six weeks after aerosol immunization with recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin overexpressing the 30-kDa antigen, C3HeB/FeJ mice were aerosol infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Six weeks later, mice were treated with one of three standard regimens for latent tuberculosis infection or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–neutralizing antibody. Mouse lungs were analyzed by histological features, positron emission tomography/computed tomography, whole-genome microarrays, and RT-PCR. Lungs and sera were studied by multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Paucibacillary infection was established, recapitulating the sterilizing activities of human latent tuberculosis infection regimens. TNF neutralization led to increased lung bacillary load, disrupted granuloma architecture with expanded necrotic foci and reduced tissue hypoxia, and accelerated animal mortality. TNF-neutralized mouse lungs and sera showed significant up-regulation of interferon γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, chemokine ligands 2 and 3, and matrix metalloproteinase genes. Clinical and microbiological reactivation of paucibacillary infection by TNF neutralization was associated with reduced hypoxia in lung granulomas and induction of matrix metalloproteinases and proinflammatory cytokines. This model may be useful for screening the sterilizing activity of novel anti-tuberculosis drugs, and identifying mycobacterial regulatory and metabolic pathways required for bacillary growth restriction and reactivation.

Manipulation of fungal development as source of novel secondary metabolites for biotechnology

Abstract: Fungal genomics revealed a large potential of yet-unexplored secondary metabolites, which are not produced during vegetative growth. The discovery of novel bioactive compounds is increasingly gaining importance. The high number of resistances against established antibiotics requires novel drugs to counteract increasing human and animal mortality rates. In addition, growth of plant pathogens has to be controlled to minimize harvest losses. An additional critical issue is the post-harvest production of deleterious mycotoxins. Fungal development and secondary metabolite production are linked processes. Therefore, molecular regulators of development might be suitable to discover new bioactive fungal molecules or to serve as targets to control fungal growth, development, or secondary metabolite production. The fungal impact is relevant as well for our healthcare systems as for agriculture. We propose here to use the knowledge about mutant strains discovered in fungal model systems for a broader application to detect and explore new fungal drugs or toxins. As examples, mutant strains impaired in two conserved eukaryotic regulatory complexes are discussed. The COP9 signalosome (CSN) and the velvet complex act at the interface between development and secondary metabolism. The CSN is a multi-protein complex of up to eight subunits and controls the activation of CULLIN-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases, which mark substrates with ubiquitin chains for protein degradation by the proteasome. The nuclear velvet complex consists of the velvet-domain proteins VeA and VelB and the putative methyltransferase LaeA acting as a global regulator for secondary metabolism. Defects in both complexes disturb fungal development, light perception, and the control of secondary metabolism. The potential biotechnological relevance of these developmental fungal mutant strains for drug discovery, agriculture, food safety, and human healthcare is discussed.

White-Tailed Deer Response to Vehicle Approach:Evidence of Unclear and Present Danger

Abstract: The fundamental causes of animal-vehicle collisions are unclear, particularly at the level of animal detection of approaching vehicles and decision-making. Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) are especially costly in terms of animal mortality, property damage, and safety. Over one year, we exposed free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to vehicle approach under low ambient light conditions, from varying start distances, and vehicle speeds from 20 km/h to approximately 90 km/h. We modeled flight response by deer to an approaching vehicle and tested four hypotheses: 1) flight-initiation distance (FID) would correlate positively with start distance (indicating a spatial margin of safety); 2) deer would react to vehicle speed using a temporal margin of safety; 3) individuals reacting at greater FIDs would be more likely to cross the path of the vehicle; and 4) crossings would correlate positively with start distance, approach speed, and distance to concealing/refuge cover. We examined deer responses by quantiles. Median FID was 40% of start distance, irrespective of start distance or approach speed. Converting FID to time-to-collision (TTC), median TTC was 4.6 s, but uncorrelated with start distance or approach speed. The likelihood of deer crossing in front of the vehicle was not associated with greater FIDs or other explanatory variables. Because deer flight response to vehicle approach was highly variable, DVCs should be more likely with increasing vehicle speeds because of lower TTCs for a given distance. For road sections characterized by frequent DVCs, we recommend estimating TTC relative to vehicle speed and candidate line-of-sight distances adjusted downward by (1-P), where P represents our findings for the proportion of start distance by which >75% of deer had initiated flight. Where road design or conservation goals limit effectiveness of line-of-sight maintenance, we suggest incorporation of roadway obstacles that force drivers to slow vehicles, in addition to posting advisory speed limits.

Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Co-Composting of Dead Hens with Manure as Affected by Forced Aeration Rate

Abstract: . The effect of ventilation rate (VR) on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from co-composting dead hens mixed with hen manure was quantified. Three VR levels of 0.9, 0.7, and 0.5 m 3 h -1 were evaluated. Gaseous concentrations were measured using a multi-gas infrared photoacoustic analyzer, VR was measured with flowmeters, and the gas emission rate was computed from the VR and gas concentration. Decomposition of the carcasses over the 11-week composting period was greater than 88%. VR was found to significantly affect NH 3 , CO 2 , and CH 4 emissions (p 3 h -1 were, respectively, 2.4, 2.0, and 1.2 g NH 3 ; 78, 66, and 42 g CO 2 ; 120, 90, and 52 mg CH 4 ; and 6.4, 6.1, and 5.1 mg N 2 O. Hence, the study results suggest that the ventilation rate can be adjusted to reduce NH 3 and GHG emissions from animal mortality compositing.

Influence of Two Depuration Periods on the Activity and Transcription of Antioxidant Enzymes in Tilapia Exposed to Repeated Doses of Cylindrospermopsin under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract: The cyanobacterial toxin Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a potent protein synthesis inhibitor, is increasingly being found in freshwater bodies infested by cyanobacterial blooms worldwide. Moreover, it has been reported to be implicated in human intoxications and animal mortality. Recently, the alteration of the activity and gene expression of some glutathione related enzymes in tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to a single dose of CYN has been reported. However, little is known about the effects induced by repeated doses of this toxin in tilapias exposed by immersion and the potential reversion of these biochemical alterations after two different depuration periods (3 or 7 days). In the present study, tilapias were exposed by immersion to repeated doses of a CYN-containing culture of Aphanizomenon ovalisporum during 14 days, and then were subjected to depuration periods (3 or 7 days) in clean water in order to examine the potential reversion of the effects observed. The activity and relative mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and soluble glutathione-S-transferases (sGST), and also the sGST protein abundance by Western blot analysis were evaluated in liver and kidney of fish. Results showed significant alterations in most of the parameters evaluated and their recovery after 3 days (GPx activity, sGST relative abundance) or 7 days (GPx gene expression, sGST activity). These findings not only confirm the oxidative stress effects produced in fish by cyanobacterial cells containing CYN, but also show the effectiveness of depuration processes in mitigating the CYN-containing culture toxic effects.

Composting Animal Mortalities

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Impact of environmental factors on production and reproduction in domestic animals.

Abstract: Climatic restrictions on vectors, environmental habitats and disease causing agents are important for keeping many animals diseases in check. Alterations of temperature and precipitation regimes may result in a spread of disease and parasites into new regions or produce an increase in the incidence of disease, which, in turn, would reduce animal productivity and possibly increase animal mortality. Some current practices to reduce heat stress in dairy cows, such as shades, sprinklers and ventilation will be suitable for adapting to future climates if the economics of heat stress management do not change radically. However, farmers are not quite aware about the impacts global warming can produce in their operation. Therefore, good research work is needed to help them take strategic and tactical decisions.

Method for establishing coronary artery microvascular spasm pig-model

Abstract: The invention provides a method for establishing a coronary artery microvascular spasm pig-model, and belongs to the technical field of medical models The method comprises that after bilateral femoral arteries of a test pig are free, distal ends of the femoral arteries are ligatured by wires, a left-side sheathing canal is fed into a pigtail catheter, blood flow dynamics indexes are determined, in a right-side sheathing canal, a coronary artery radiography process is carried out so that the middle of an anterior descending branch is displayed, and a neuropeptide Y is injected into the coronary artery so that the coronary artery microvascular spasm pig-model is obtained The coronary artery microvascular spasm pig-model has good singularity, well fits to the clinical disease fact, satisfies clinical psychological stress characteristics, can be operated simply, is scientific and reasonable, has short modeling time, small damage and low animal mortality, realizes coronary artery microvascular evaluation on the carrier, realizes qualitative and quantitative evaluation of microvascular spasm state and degree, realizes real-time observation, provides a novel research means for basic clinical research and is suitable for popularization application

Differential Effects of Furnidipines’ Metabolites on Reperfusion-Induced Arrhythmias in Rats In Vivo

Abstract: We previously established that furnidipine (FUR) and oxy dihydropyridines prevent rats mortality by strong reduction of the lethal arrhythmias in reperfusion Therefore we decided to study the influence of three main metabolites (M-2, M-3, M-8) of FUR on ischemia-and reperfusion- induced arrhythmias and hemodynamic parameters in rat model to examine their independent activity The metabolites (M-2, M-3, M-8) were given orally 20 mg/kg (24 and 1 h before ischemia) Mortality was significantly diminished in M-2 and M-3 treated groups with M-3 preventing animal mortality entirely All three examined substances significantly reduced the duration and incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) with M-3, once again, completely preventing VF Moreover, only M-3 significantly decreased the duration of ventricular tachycardia but had no influence on their incidence Through the occlusion and reperfusion periods, M-2 and M-3 were markedly less hypotensive than M-8 and did not influence on heart rate We conclude that two tested metabolites of FUR, M-3 and M-2 exhibited the most pronounced anti-arrhythmic effect being at the same time the most normotensive and therefore caused the most beneficial effects

Effects of notoginsenoside-Rg1 on the expression of apoptosis factors in brain tissue after ischemia injury

Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of notoginsenoside-Rg1 on Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in cerebral cortex,cerebellum and bulbus medullae.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups,including sham group(Group S),model group(Group M),model + positive control group(Group N),and model + notoginsenoside-Rg1 25,50 and 100 mg /kg groups(Group RL,Group RM and Group RH).The Middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion model was induced by clue-blocked method(blocking arterial flow for 2 hours,reperfusion for 24hours).The drugs were administered intraperitoneally twice a day.The rats in Group S and M were given with normal saline;the rats in Group N were given with nimodipine(1 mg /kg);while the rats in Group RL,RM and RH were given with notoginsenoside-Rg1 of 25,50,and 100 mg /kg,respectively.The neurological deficit scores and animal mortality were evaluated 24 hours after drug administration.The immunohistochemistry were used to detect the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in cerebral cortex,cerebellum and medulla oblongata.Results Rats administered with notoginsenoside-Rg1 showed a significant decrease in neurological deficit scores and animal mortality than the Group M,and increased ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in cerebral cortex,cerebellum and medulla oblongata(P 0.05,P 0.01).The Group RM was remarkably different compared with Group RL except the ratio of Bcl-2 /Bax protein in cerebral cortex(P 0.05),and there was dose-response relationship between them.In the neurologic deficit symptom scores and animals mortality,The Group RM and Group RL were significantly different compared with Group N(P 0.05,P 0.01).In Bcl-2 /Bax of cerebral cortex and medulla oblongata,all groups of notoginsenoside-Rg1 were significant different compared with Group N(P 0.05,P 0.01).In Bcl-2 /Bax of cerebellar,only Group RM was significantly different compared with Group N(P 0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of notoginsenoside-Rg1 against brain ischemia injury may be related to the up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein of erebral cortex,cerebellum and bulbus medullae,and down-regulation of Bax protein as well as raise of Bcl-2 /Bax of the cerebral cortex and bulbus medullae.

Transnational Exploratory FieldREG Investigation III: Statistical Anomalies in a Random Physical System Proximal to Large-Scale Animal Mortality

Abstract: A recent series of investigations involving the apparent FieldREG phenomenon have been explored in order to examine potential effects of human emotion, subjective novelty, and a number of anomalous activities on the statistical output of an external random event generator device, with some intriguing results revealed. However, studies in this specific area focusing on animal subjects have yet to be undertaken. Therefore, our objective with the current research protocol was to examine potential FieldREG effects that might be associated with stressed animals located in immediate proximity to the experimental apparatus which produced the random number variations we measured. Specifically, large-scale animal mortality within a slaughterhouse factory was examined for potential influence on the output of a random event generator. A number of intriguing effects were observed, and further theoretical interpretations are explored.

Pile Characteristics for Effective Animal Mortality Composting

Abstract: Introduction Animal producers and veterinarians have limited options for managing dead animals. For example, some states prohibit the burial of routine poultry mortality, and rendering services are becoming expensive and harder to access in the rural areas. Other mortality disposal methods such as incineration and chemical digestion may be expensive and complicated to use on the farm. Animal mortality composting is a simple, low-cost disposal method and its end product can be land applied as fertilizer and soil amendment. In a carcass compost pile, the animal is concealed under a blanket of organic material to promote decomposition at elevated temperatures by naturally occurring microbes such as bacteria and fungi. This paper discusses the carcass compost pile characteristics such as composition, porosity, structure, and other factors that influence the conditions for proper carcass biodegradation, inactivation of pathogens, and prevention of environmental pollution.