Persistence of Eimeria bovis in soil

Eimeriosis is a disease that occurs globally and often affects cattle grazing on pastures contaminated with oocysts of the pathogenic species Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zuernii or Eimeria alabamensis, respectively. Nonetheless, little is understood regarding oocyst persistence on the pasture. The study was performed in the temperate climate zone. Soil samples were spiked with 100,000 E. bovis oocysts in July 2010 or with 50,000 oocysts in October 2010, respectively, both either with our without addition of cattle faeces. The soil samples were exposed to natural environmental conditions until April 2011. A subset of the samples was analysed immediately after spiking as positive control. The oocysts were recovered by a flotation method and counted in a reading chamber. On average, 23 % of the oocysts could be recovered from the positive control. The recovery of oocysts dropped to 0.30 % of the original level in the samples prepared in July independent of the addition of faeces, whereas the oocyst count was higher in the samples prepared in October, both without (2.05 %) and with (2.64 %) faecal material. No differences were observed between presence of oocysts or oocyst counts recovered in the presence or absence of faeces. Presence of faeces had a positive influence on oocyst integrity. During the winter season, the number of oocysts in the soil was lowered under the detection limit in most samples. On the other hand, the comparatively short 3-month summer period had a significant influence on the number of persisting oocysts too.     

A functional NOS1 promoter polymorphism interacts with adverse environment on functional and dysfunctional impulsivity

Rationale  

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) knockout results in increased impulsive aggression in mice under adverse housing conditions. In line with this, we have previously shown that a functional promoter polymorphism of NOS1, termed NOS1 ex1f-VNTR, is associated with impulsivity-related traits and related disorders.     

Different housing conditions alter the behavioural phenotype of CCK(2) receptor-deficient mice

The behavioural phenotype of mice, lacking CCK(2) receptors, has varied across studies conducted not only in different laboratories, but also across studies published by the same laboratory. The present study was designed to elucidate the phenotype of CCK(2) receptor-deficient mice housed in two different environmental conditions within the same laboratory. Environmental enrichment was used as an alternative environment to standard laboratory conditions. Significant genotype by environment interaction was observed in the plus-maze, hot-plate, restraint-induced analgesia and water maze test. While mice, lacking CCK(2) receptors, housed in standard conditions were more anxious, displayed stronger restraint-induced analgesia and performed worse in the water maze when compared to corresponding wild-type littermates, none of these phenotypes were observed in mice, housed in enriched conditions. By contrast, in the hot-plate test, rota-rod and locomotor activity test a genotype-dependent phenotype was observed in mice housed in enriched, but not in standard conditions. Moreover, the phenotype of CCK(2) receptor-deficient mice established in the hot-plate test and rota-rod was sex-specific. These results suggest that thorough and labour-consuming study of mutation-induced behavioural phenotype is necessary not only in different genetic backgrounds but also the substantial variation of phenotype due to sex- and environment-related factors have to be explored.     

Testosterone supplementation of megestrol therapy does not enhance lean tissue accrual in men with human immunodeficiency virus-associated weight loss: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial

CONTEXT: Reduced energy intake is a primary factor in HIV-associated wasting. Megestrol acetate (MA) stimulates appetite and weight gain. However, much of the weight gained is fat, possibly as a result of MA-induced hypogonadism. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether coadministration of testosterone with MA could enhance lean body mass (LBM) accrual and evaluate the effects of MA, alone or combined with testosterone, on sexual functioning and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. DESIGN: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. SETTING: Fourteen AIDS Clinical Trials Units in the United States participated in the study. SUBJECTS: Seventy-nine HIV-positive men with 5% or more weight loss or body mass index less than 20 kg/m2 took part in the study. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized to receive MA (800 mg daily) plus testosterone enanthate (200 mg; MA/TE; n = 41) or placebo (MA/PL; n = 38) biweekly for 12 wk. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight, body composition (bioelectric impedance analysis), adrenal and gonadal hormones, and sexual functioning (questionnaire) were measured. RESULTS: Both groups experienced robust increases in weight (median 5.3 and 7.3 kg in MA/TE and MA/PL, respectively), LBM (3.3 and 3.3 kg), and fat (3.0 and 3.8 kg). There were no significant differences between groups in the magnitude or composition of weight gain (P = 0.44, 0.90, and 0.11 for weight, LBM, and fat, respectively). Trough testosterone concentrations decreased to a greater extent in MA/PL (-12.3 vs. -6.1 nmol/liter in MA/TE; P = 0.04). Cortisol levels became nearly undetectable in subjects with plasma MA levels greater than 150 ng/ml. Sexual functioning was preserved with MA/TE but worsened in MA/PL. CONCLUSIONS: MA produced robust weight gain. Coadministration of testosterone preserved sexual functioning but did not enhance LBM accrual.     

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS): Pathophysiology in Estonians

The aim of the study was to clarify the roles of age, obesity, smoking, alcohol, pathoanatomy and -physiology in Estonian's OSAS. For this 164 randomly chosen such patients were selected in different regions of Estonia. They underwent naso-oropharyngeal examination, physical examination of craniofacial abnormalities, and polysomnography. They also completed a self-reported questionnaire about smoking, alcohol use, excessive daytime sleepiness, hypertension, cardiac disorders, headaches, concentration disorders, and recurrent upper-airway diseases. The patients (129 men; 35 women) aged between 19 and 75 years (mean 47 ± 12), BMI between 21 and 49 (mean 30.5 ± 5.15), AHI between 5 and 105 (33 ± 22).The results showed that there was a high percentage of naso-oropharyngeal disorders, such as: recurrent upper-airway diseases (54.2%), nasal breathing disorders (63.5%), and hypertrophy of tonsils (57%). There was also a high percentage of general characteristics, such as alcohol use (64%), excessive daytime sleepiness (85.5%), overweight (63%), and hypertension (51.2%). The regression summary for the dependent variable AHI if p-level = 0.0042 (R = 0.63347013) included age, BMI, hypertension, cardiac disorders, headaches, nasal obstruction, hypertrophy of pharyngeal muscles, tongue level, submental fat and slow-wave sleep (S3 + S4%).In conclusion recurrent upper-airway diseases, nasal obstruction, and hypertrophy of tonsils in combination with smoking and alcohol caused the changes in the pharyngeal and lingual muscles. The latter gives rise to such sleep apnea-related problems as heart complaints, hypertension, headache and shortage of slow-wave sleep (SWS).     

Bone metabolism markers and ghrelin in boys at different stages of sexual maturity

Aim: To examine the relationship of the markers of bone formation (procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide [PINP]) and bone resorption (type I carboxyterminal telopeptide [ICTP]) with bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), ghrelin and testosterone in boys during puberty.
Methods: Sixty boys were divided in three groups (20 boys in each) based on the pubertal stage (G1, I; G2–G3, II; G4–G5, III). Fasting PINP, ICTP, ghrelin and testosterone were measured. Total body BMD, lumbar BMD, lumbar apparent volumetric BMD (BMAD) and BMC were measured by DXA.
Results: PINP and ICTP values peaked at the beginning of puberty (Group II). Ghrelin was lower in Groups II and III compared to less mature boys. PINP and ICTP correlated with each other and were associated with lumbar BMAD in total group of boys. Relationships of PINP and ICTP with total BMD, total BMC and lumbar spine BMD in Group I were observed. PINP and ICTP were also correlated with testosterone in Group II and with lumbar spine BMAD in Group III.
Conclusion: These data suggest that testosterone stimulates PINP and ICTP in early puberty, while ghrelin has no direct influence on bone turnover markers in boys at different stages of puberty.     

PNPLA3 Gene Polymorphisms in HCV/HIV-Coinfected Individuals

Background and Aims

The patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) gene has been associated with the development of alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Using a newly developed and validated assay for PNPLA3, we explored the prevalence of gene polymorphisms in a cohort of HCV/HIV-coinfected individuals to determine whether there was an association with insulin resistance or hepatic fibrosis.

Methods

A high-resolution melting point (HRM) assay was developed and validated. The assay was used to evaluate samples obtained in the context of a clinical trial performed at ACTG sites across the USA in HIV-infected patients. Clinical features and treatment outcomes were assessed in relation to the PNPLA3 genotype.

Results

The HRM methodology demonstrated 100% concordance with results obtained by Sanger sequencing. Among 241 participants tested, 66.0% had the wild-type allele (CC) and the remainder had the aberrant PNPLA3 gene polymorphism in the homozygotic (GG) or heterozygotic (CG) form. Race and ethnicity were associated with PNPLA3 genotype but fibrosis stage, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance, and HCV treatment outcome were not.

Conclusion

The HRM method is an effective, rapid technique for characterizing PNPLA3 genotype. In those with HCV/HIV infection, nearly 40% carry gene polymorphisms associated with the development of NASH or ASH. Prospective studies should focus on this group to determine whether they represent a subset of HIV-infected persons at increased risk of fibrotic progression.