Cocktails of Mycotoxins,Phytoestrogens, and Other Secondary Metabolites in Diets of Dairy Cows in Austria: Inferences from Diet Composition and Geo-Climatic Factors

Dairy production is a pivotal economic sector of Austrian and European agriculture. Dietary toxins and endocrine disruptors of natural origin such as mycotoxins and phytoestrogens can affect animal health, reproduction, and productivity. This study characterized the profile of a wide spectrum of fungal, plant, and unspecific secondary metabolites, including regulated, emerging, and modified mycotoxins, phytoestrogens, and cyanogenic glucosides, in complete diets of lactating cows from 100 Austrian dairy farms. To achieve this, a validated multi-metabolite liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI–MS/MS) method was employed, detecting 155 of >800 tested metabolites. Additionally, the most influential dietary and geo-climatic factors related to the dietary mycotoxin contamination of Austrian dairy cattle were recognized. We evidenced that the diets of Austrian dairy cows presented ubiquitous contamination with mixtures of mycotoxins and phytoestrogens. Metabolites derived from Fusarium spp. presented the highest concentrations, were the most recurrent, and had the highest diversity among the detected fungal compounds. Zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and fumonisin B1 were the most frequently occurring mycotoxins considered in the EU legislation, with detection frequencies >70%. Among the investigated dietary factors, inclusion of maize silage (MS) and straw in the diets was the most influential factor in contamination with Fusarium-derived and other fungal toxins and metabolites, and temperature was the most influential among the geo-climatic factors.     

Osteoinductive 3D scaffolds prepared by blend centrifugal spinning for long-term delivery of osteogenic supplements

Bone regeneration is a long-term process requiring proper scaffolding and drug delivery systems. The current study delivers a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold prepared by blend centrifugal spinning loaded with the osteogenic supplements (OS) β-glycerol phosphate, ascorbate-2-phosphate and dexamethasone. The OS were successfully encapsulated into a fibrous scaffold and showed sustained release for 30 days. Furthermore, biological testing showed the osteoinductive properties of the scaffolds on a model of human mesenchymal stem cells and stimulatory effect on a model of osteoblasts. The osteoinductive properties were further proved in vivo in critical size defects of rabbits. The amount of bone trabecules was bigger compared to control fibers without OS. The results indicate that due to its long-term drug releasing properties, single step fabrication process and 3D structure, the system shows ideal properties for use as a cell-free bone implant in tissue-engineering.

Bone regeneration is a long-term process requiring proper scaffolding and drug delivery systems.     

A new two‐dimensional sonographic approach to the assessment of the fetal hard and soft palates

Facial clefts are among the most common congenital defects. Ultrasound (US) imaging of secondary fetal palate, especially the detection of isolated defects, remains challenging. Currently described two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional methods are technically demanding and impractical for application during routine fetal anatomy evaluation. As an adjunct method, magnetic resonance imaging can provide additional information but has its limitations. We present a novel 2D US approach using axial and sagittal planes to evaluate the fetal palate and demonstrate the main differences between an intact palate, isolated cleft palate, and a cleft lip with cleft palate.     

Multisite rTMS for the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus: Stimulation of the Cortical Tinnitus Network—A Pilot Study

Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the auditory cortex has been shown to significantly reduce tinnitus severity in some patients. There is growing evidence that a neural network of both auditory and non-auditory cortical areas is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic subjective tinnitus. Targeting several core regions of this network by rTMS might constitute a promising strategy to enhance treatment effects. This study intends to test the effects of a multisite rTMS protocol on tinnitus severity. 45 patients with chronic tinnitus were treated with multisite stimulation (left dorsolateral prefrontal, 2,000 stimuli, 20 Hz; left temporoparietal, 1,000 stimuli, 1 Hz; right temporoparietal, 1,000 stimuli, 1 Hz). Results were compared with a historical control group consisting of 29 patients who received left temporal stimulation (2,000 stimuli, 1 Hz). Both groups were treated on ten consecutive working days. Tinnitus severity was assessed at three time points: at baseline, after the last treatment session (day 12) and after a follow-up period of 90 days. A change of tinnitus severity over time was tested using repeated measures ANOVA with the between-subjects factor treatment group. Both groups improved similarly from baseline to day 12. However, there was a difference on day 90: the multisite stimulation group showed an overall improvement whereas patients receiving temporal stimulation returned to their baseline level of tinnitus severity. These pilot data suggest that multisite rTMS is superior to temporal rTMS and represents a promising strategy for enhancing treatment effects of rTMS in tinnitus. Future studies should explore this new protocol with respect to clinical and neurobiological effects in more detail.