bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryptococcus neoformansreleases proteins during intracellular residence that affect the outcome of the fungal–macrophage interaction
Authors: Jung Eric H , Park Yoon-Dong , Dragotakes Quigly , Ramirez Lia S , Smith Daniel Q , Reis Flavia C G , Dziedzic Amanda , Rodrigues Marcio L , Baker Rosanna P , Williamson Peter R , Jedlicka Anne , Casadevall Arturo , Coelho Carolina
Published: September 2022

Cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular pathogen that can replicate and disseminate in mammalian macrophages. In this study, we analyzed fungal proteins identified in murine macrophage-like cells after infection with C. neoformans. To accomplish this, we developed a protocol to identify proteins released from cryptococcal cells inside macrophage-like cells; we identified 127 proteins of fungal origin in infected macrophage-like cells. Among the proteins identified was urease, a known virulence factor, and others such as transaldolase and phospholipase D, which have catalytic activities that could contribute to virulence. This method provides a straightforward methodology to study host–pathogen interactions. We chose to study further Yeast Oligomycin Resistance (Yor1), a relatively uncharacterized protein belonging to the large family of ATP binding cassette transporter (ABC transporters). These transporters belong to a large and ancient protein family found in all extant phyla. While ABC transporters have an enormous diversity of functions across varied species, in pathogenic fungi they are better studied as drug efflux pumps. Analysis of C. neoformans yor1Δ strains revealed defects in nonlytic exocytosis, capsule size, and dimensions of extracellular vesicles, when compared to wild-type strains. We detected no difference in growth rates and cell body size. Our results indicate that C. neoformans releases a large suite of proteins during macrophage infection, some of which can modulate fungal virulence and are likely to affect the fungal–macrophage interaction.
Ushering in a new era of single-cell transcriptomics in bacteria
Authors: Homberger Christina , Barquist Lars , Vogel Jörg
Published: September 2022

Transcriptome analysis of individual cells by single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) has become routine for eukaryotic tissues, even being applied to whole multicellular organisms. In contrast, developing methods to read the transcriptome of single bacterial cells has proven more challenging, despite a general perception of bacteria as much simpler than eukaryotes. Bacterial cells are harder to lyse, their RNA content is about two orders of magnitude lower than that of eukaryotic cells, and bacterial mRNAs are less stable than their eukaryotic counterparts. Most importantly, bacterial transcripts lack functional poly(A) tails, precluding simple adaptation of popular standard eukaryotic scRNA-seq protocols that come with the double advantage of specific mRNA amplification and concomitant depletion of rRNA. However, thanks to very recent breakthroughs in methodology, bacterial scRNA-seq is now feasible. This short review will discuss recently published bacterial scRNA-seq approaches (MATQ-seq, microSPLiT, and PETRI-seq) and a spatial transcriptomics approach based on multiplexed in situ hybridization (par-seqFISH). Together, these novel approaches will not only enable a new understanding of cell-to-cell variation in bacterial gene expression, they also promise a new microbiology by enabling high-resolution profiling of gene activity in complex microbial consortia such as the microbiome or pathogens as they invade, replicate, and persist in host tissue.
Harish-Chandra Pairs in the Verlinde Category in Positive Characteristic
Authors: Venkatesh Siddharth
Published: September 2022

In this article, we develop the theory of commutative and cocommutative Hopf algerbas in the Verlinde category and prove that the category of affine group schemes of finite type in the Verlinde category is equivalent to the category of Harish-Chandra pairs in the Verlinde category. Subsequently, we extend this equivalence to an equivalence between corresponding representation categories.
Neutralizing Immunity Induced Against the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 Variants in Vaccine Breakthrough Infections
Authors: Brazer Noah , Morris Mary Kate , Servellita Venice , Anglin Khamal , Saldhi Prachi , Garcia-Knight Miguel , Bethancourt Sutana , Sotomayor-Gonzalez Alicia , Wang Baolin , Foresythe Abiodun , Nguyen Jenny , Gliwa Amelia S , Pineda-Ramirez Jesus , Sanchez Ruth Diaz , Zhang Yueyuan , Ott Melanie , Wadford Debra A , Andino Raul , Kelly J Daniel , Hanson Carl , Chiu Charles Y
Published: September 2022

Background

As of early 2022, the Omicron variants are the predominant circulating lineages globally. Understanding neutralizing antibody responses against Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 after vaccine breakthrough infections will provide insights into BA.2 infectivity and susceptibility to subsequent reinfection.

Methods

Live virus neutralization assays were used to study immunity against Delta and Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants in samples from 86 individuals, 24 unvaccinated (27.9%) and 62 vaccinated (72.1%), who were infected with Delta (n = 42, 48.8%) or BA.1 (n = 44, 51.2%). Among the 62 vaccinated individuals, 39 were unboosted (62.9%), whereas 23 were boosted (37.1%).

Results

In unvaccinated infections, neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against the three variants were weak or undetectable, except against Delta for Delta-infected individuals. Both Delta and BA.1 breakthrough infections resulted in strong nAb responses against ancestral wild-type and Delta lineages, but moderate nAb responses against BA.1 and BA.2, with similar titers between unboosted and boosted individuals. Antibody titers against BA.2 were generally higher than those against BA.1 in breakthrough infections.

Conclusions

These results underscore the decreased immunogenicity of BA.1 compared to BA.2, insufficient neutralizing immunity against BA.2 in unvaccinated individuals, and moderate to strong neutralizing immunity induced against BA.2 in Delta and BA.1 breakthrough infections.
Comparison of the Risk of Hospitalization and Severe Disease Among Co-circulating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants
Authors: Trobajo-Sanmartín Camino , Miqueleiz Ana , Guevara Marcela , Fernández-Huerta Miguel , Burgui Cristina , Casado Itziar , Baigorria Fernando , Navascués Ana , Ezpeleta Carmen , Castilla Jesús
Published: September 2022

Background

We compare the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes among co-circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants between January 2021 and May 2022 in Navarra, Spain.

Methods

We compared the frequency of hospitalization and severe disease (intensive care unit admission or death) due to COVID-19 among the co-circulating variants. Variants analyzed were non–variants of concern (non-VOCs), Alpha, Delta, Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratio (aOR).

Results

The Alpha variant had a higher risk of hospitalization (aOR, 1.86 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.28–2.71]) and severe disease (aOR, 2.40 [95% CI, 1.31–4.40]) than non-VOCs. The Delta variant did not show a significantly different risk of hospitalization (aOR, 0.73 [95% CI, .40–1.30]) and severe disease (aOR, 3.04 [95% CI, .57–16.22]) compared to the Alpha variant. The Omicron BA.1 significantly reduced both risks relative to the Delta variant (aORs, 0.28 [95% CI, .16–.47] and 0.23 [95% CI, .12–.46], respectively). The Omicron BA.2 reduced the risk of hospitalization compared to BA.1 (aOR, 0.52 [95% CI, .29–.95]).

Conclusions

The Alpha and Delta variants showed an increased risk of hospitalization and severe disease, which decreased considerably with the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2. Surveillance of variants can lead to important differences in severity.
Intelligent construction for the transportation infrastructure: a review
Authors: He Qing , Ghofrani Faeze , Gao Tianci , Wang Ping , He Chuan , Li Yongle , Ai Changfa
Published: September 2022

Transportation infrastructure (TI) is a vital link for and critical component of societal and economic development. A new area, called intelligent construction for transportation infrastructure (IC/TI), is emerging with the integration of traditional TI construction and new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), big data, virtual reality (VR), remote sensing, building information modeling (BIM), digital twins (DTs), and the internet of things (IoT). This paper reviews the research in the area of IC/TI published since 2017. A total of 191 journal articles in the area of IC/TI were obtained from the Web of Science database and reviewed, including 23 review articles and 168 research articles. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date literature review of IC/TI to further facilitate research and applications in this domain. Based on the results of this review, current research trends, applications, technologies, research gaps, and future needs are discussed.
38 Effect of Breed Composition and Genome-Wide Association Study on Epidermis Thickness in a Multibreed Angus-Brahman Population
Authors: Andrade Andrea N Nunez , Hernandez Aakilah , Rodriguez Eduardo E , Davila Kaitlyn M Sarlo , Mateescu Raluca , Rodríguez Eduardo
Published: September 2022

Heat stress in cattle has recently received growing attention because of anticipated increases in environmental temperature by global warming. Heat stress limits the production efficiency of cattle, and it is one of the principal causes of economic loss for beef cattle producers in these environments. Thermotolerance can be defined as the ability to maintain optimal growth, feed intake, and reproduction under the presence of heat stress, and it varies among individual animals and breeds. The objectives of the analysis were to investigate the amount of variation on epidermis thickness, test the effect of breed composition and age group on skin histology traits and to conduct a genome-wide association study on skin properties of beef cattle, focusing on the epidermis thickness. Skin biopsy samples were collected from 318 heifers from a UF multibreed population (animals ranging from 100% Brahman to 100% Angus), genotyped with the Bovine GGP F250K chip. Quality control was conducted with BLUPF90 software, including a call rate of 0.90 and a MAF < 0.01. BLUPF90 software was used to fit a single locus mixed model to test the effect of each marker. Breed group and age group were included as fixed effects. There is a significant effect in breed group ((P < 0.0001) and in age group (P < 0.0001). This study shows there is a large amount of variation in epidermis thickness across and within breed groups. Significant SNPs for the thickness of the epidermis were found in the HBEGF gene, which is a protein coding involved in several processes, including epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway and there is a variation across breed Skin histology traits are fundamental for the ability to lose heat more efficiently and allow the maintenance of normal body temperatures under extreme conditions. This study could contribute toward improving cattle’s adaptation to thermal stress.
82 Genetic Correlations Underlying the Thermotolerance: Production Complex in Beef Cattle
Authors: Mateescu Raluca , Rezende Fernanda M , Davila Kaitlyn M Sarlo , Andrade Andrea N Nunez , Hernandez Aakilah , Oltenacu Pascal
Published: September 2022

Heat stress is a principal factor limiting production of animal protein in subtropical and tropical regions, and its impact is expected to increase dramatically. Development of effective strategies to improve the ability to cope with heat stress is imperative to enhance productivity of the livestock industry and secure global food supplies. However, selection focused on production and ignoring adaptability results in beef animals with greater metabolic heat production and increased sensitivity to heat stress. The goal of this research is to describe novel traits which can be used to characterize genetic pathways for thermotolerance which are independent or positively associated with production performance. Variance components, heritabilities, additive genetic correlations, and phenotypic correlations were estimated for skin histology characteristics, hair characteristics, body temperature under high temperature-humidity index (THI) conditions, and ultrasound carcass traits on 330 heifers from the University of Florida multibreed herd. A high heritability of 0.69 was estimated for the sweat gland area. The heritability for body temperature under high THI conditions was estimated to be 0.13 which is similar the heritability estimated reported for rectal temperature in a Brahman x Angus crossbred population (0.19; Riley et al., 2012) and dairy cattle (0.17; Dikmen at al., 2012). Sweat gland area had a negative genetic correlation with sweat gland depth (-0.49), short and long hair length (-0.45 and -0.28, respectively), and body temperature under high THI conditions (-0.65). These negative correlations suggest a similarity in the genetic control underlying these traits which would allow for selection of animals with large sweat glands, short hair (both topcoat and under coat), and able to maintain a lower body temperature under high THI conditions. More importantly, although weak, the genetic correlations between sweat gland area and the two production traits (backfat and intramuscular fat) were favorable (0.22 and 0.20, respectively).
93 Predicting Metabolizable Energy from Digestible Energy for Growing and Finishing Beef Cattle and Relationships to Prediction of Methane
Authors: Hales Kristin E , Galyean Michael
Published: September 2022

Reliable predictions of metabolizable energy (ME) from digestible energy (DE) are necessary to prescribe nutrient requirements of beef cattle accurately. Our objectives were to add new data to a previously published database and re-evaluate the relationship between DE and ME and to describe and evaluate new methane prediction equations derived from the DE:ME relationship. The previous database, which included 87 treatment means from 23 respiration calorimetry studies was updated to evaluate the efficiency of converting DE to ME by adding 47 treatment means from 11 additional studies. Diets were fed to growing-finishing cattle under individual feeding conditions. A citation-adjusted linear regression equation was developed where dietary ME concentration (Mcal/kg of dry matter [DM]) was the dependent variable and dietary DE concentration (Mcal/kg) was the independent variable: ME = 1.0001 × DE – 0.3926. The slope did not differ from unity; therefore, the intercept defines the value of ME predicted from DE. For practical use, we recommend ME = DE - 0.39. Based on the relationship between DE and ME, the citation-adjusted loss of methane was calculated and yielded a citation-adjusted value of 0.2433 Mcal/kg of DMI. Recognizing that methane production decreases per unit of intake energy as DMI increases above maintenance, we also examined the relationship between multiples of maintenance intake and daily energy lost as methane. This citation-adjusted relationship was: CH4, Mcal/kg = 0.3344 – 0.05639 × multiple of maintenance. Both the 0.2433 value and the result of the intake-adjusted equation can be multiplied by DMI to yield an estimate of methane production. Further research is needed to determine whether coefficients to predict methane from DMI could be developed for specific diet types, levels of DMI relative to body weight, or other variables that affect the emission of methane.
136 Intestinal Barrier Function: Physiological Regulation, Injury, and Repair in Horses and Swine
Authors: Blikslager Anthony T
Published: September 2022

Intestinal barrier function is critical to prevent translocation of microorganisms and their toxins from the intestinal lumen to the circulation. This is particularly noteworthy in horses, in which colic may be associated with ischemia and breakdown of the intestinal barrier, and in pigs, in which infectious diseases such as PEDv cause epithelial soughing and loss of intestinal barrier function. The term ‘function’ refers to the ability of a single layer of columnar epithelium that lines the intestinal tract to form a physical and dynamic barrier. This layer of epithelium is linked by a series of interepithelial junctions, most importantly tight junctions, that has to prevent passage of noxious luminal contents, while simultaneously serving to transport electrolytes, water, and nutrients necessary for physiological function of the host. The tight junctions are dynamically regulated by the cytoskeleton via nutrient signaling, and perturbed by reduced oxygen tension and pathogenic organisms. Barrier function also includes the ability to rapidly repair. In the small intestine, villus contraction is the initial phase of repair, followed by crawling of epithelium adjacent to the wound using a mechanism called restitution. In the colon, where there are no villi, restitution is particularly rapid. Following restitution, tight junctions have to be re-sealed to re-establish barrier function, which occurs rapidly by recycling intact tight junction proteins. The intestinal barrier is further disrupted during injury by inflammation, including transmigration of neutrophils that disrupt tight junctions. An additional critical element of barrier function is the continuous renewal of epithelium via proliferation of stem cells contained within the intestinal crypts. Proliferation increases following injury to replace lost epithelium. Collectively, barrier function includes mechanisms to maintain a healthy epithelial barrier, repair in the acute phases of injury and inflammation, and replace epithelium via stem cell activity.
261 Effects of soy Protein Concentrate Replacing Animal Protein Supplements on Modulation of Mucosa-Associated Microbiota in Relation to Intestinal Health of Nursery Pigs
Authors: Deng Zixiao , Duarte Marcos Elias E , Kim Sung Woo
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of soy protein concentrate (SPC) replacing animal protein supplements on modulation of mucosa-associated microbiota in relation to intestinal health of nursery pigs. Weaned pigs (n = 56; 6.4 ± 0.6 kg BW) were allotted to 5 treatments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with initial BW and sex as blocks and fed for 35 d in 3 phases (P1/2/3 for 10/12/13 d, respectively). Dietary treatments were NC (n = 12): a diet with fish meal 4/2/1%, poultry meal 10/8/4%, and blood plasma 4/2/1% for P1/2/3, respectively; RFM (n = 12): NC with SPC replacing fish meal; RPM (n = 12): NC with SPC replacing poultry meal; RBP (n = 12): NC with SPC replacing blood plasma, and PC (n = 8): NC with SPC replacing all animal protein supplements. All diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements by NRC (2012). On d 35, pigs were euthanized to collect jejunal mucosa to evaluate intestinal health and microbiota. PC increased (P < 0.05) Lactobacillaceae (1.04 to 8.15%), and tended to increase (P = 0.073) Prevotellaceae (7.48 to 18.94%), whereas it decreased (P < 0.05) Chao1 index (81.3 to 15.8), Helicobacteraceae (27.95 to 3.02), and tended to reduce (P = 0.099) Campylobacteraceae (2.95 to 0.13). RPM tended to increase (P = 0.090) Prevotellaceae (7.48 to 17.16%) and reduced (P < 0.05) Helicobacteraceae (27.95 to 11.02%) without affecting Chao 1. Decreased Chao 1 was correlated to reduced feed intake and therefore, weight gain of pigs. In conclusion, the use of SPC replacing all animal proteins in nursery diets benefited the composition of the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, whereas feed intake and weight gain were reduced. The use of SPC replacing only poultry meal, however, benefitted the composition of the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota without affecting feed intake and weight gain of nursery pigs.
299 Differences in Microbial Community Composition between Uterine Horns Ipsilateral and Contralateral to the Corpus Luteum in Beef Cows on day 15 of the Estrous Cycle
Authors: Walker Madison B , Holton Matthew P , Lourenco Jeferson M , Fontes Pedro
Published: September 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate the uterine microbiota composition of cows on day 15 of the estrous cycle. Non-pregnant Bos taurus beef cows (n = 23) were exposed to a pre-synchronization step followed by the 7-d CO-Synch estrus synchronization protocol. On days -10, -3, 0 (exogenously induced ovulation), 7 and 14, transrectal ultrasonography was performed to evaluate ovarian structures, ensure synchrony, and determine the side of ovulation. Cows were harvested on day 15 and individual swabs were collected from each uterine horn using aseptic techniques. DNA was extracted and the entire (V1-V9 hypervariable regions) 16s rRNA gene was sequenced. Sequences were analyzed using the QIIME2 Pipeline. Across all samples, 22 phyla, 130 families, 215 genera, and 90 different species were identified. Butyrivibrio, Bacteroidales RF16 group, Clostridia_UCG-014, and Moraxellaceae, had different (P < 0.05) relative abundances in the ipsilateral compared with contralateral horns, whereas Proteobacteria, Acinetobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group, Nanoarchaeota, Woesearchaeales, and Prevotellaceae YAB2003 group tended (P < 0.10) to differ between ipsilateral and contralateral horns. In conclusion, there were significant differences in the composition of the microbial community of the ipsilateral and contralateral horn of cows on day 15 of the estrous cycle.
342 Effects of Direct fed Microbial Mixtures on Beef Cattle Ruminal Fermentation Characteristics, Intake, and Nutrient Digestibility
Authors: Silva Kaliu G Scaranto , Sarturi Jhones O , Henry Darren H , Johnson Bradley J , Lopez Alejandra M , Rodrigues Barbara , Nardi Kaue Tonelli , Rush Camron J , Peters Sarah , Camarillo Angela , Wilson Ashleigh
Published: September 2022

Direct fed microbials (DFM) dietary mixture effects on beef cattle ruminal variables, intake, and apparent total tract digestibility were evaluated. Six ruminally cannulated beef steers (BW = 520 ± 30 kg) were used in a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design and offered a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet ad libitum for three 28-d periods (21-d adaptation and 7-d collection). Treatments assigned were: 1) Control (no DFM mixture; lactose only); 2 and 3) DFM mixtures at distinct concentrations [Mixture A and B, at 2 g/animal-daily (lactose used as carrier)]. Ruminal pH and temperature were measured every 6 min (wireless probes). Ruminal samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 23 h post-feeding on d28. Feed and fecal samples (collected once and twice daily, respectively) were composited by period and analyzed. Fecal output was estimated with a dietary internal marker (288-h indigestible-NDF). Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. No treatment × time interactions (P ≥ 0.20) were observed. Steers offered mixture-A experienced 300 min/d less (P = 0.04) time under the ruminal pH 5.6, tended (P = 0.13) for a lesser area under the curve of ruminal pH 5.6, while showing a greater (P = 0.04) ruminal pH average (5.67 vs. 5.50), and tended (P = 0.06) for a lesser ruminal temperature (39.2 vs. 39.4°C) compared to control. The ruminal concentration of NH3-N was greater (P = 0.02) for mixture-A compared with control (10.78 vs. 4.35 mg/dL), while animals offered mixture-B tended (P = 0.07) to be greater (9.11 mg/dL) than control. Steers offered DFM mixture-A increased (P = 0.04) ADF digestibility compared with control (39.8 vs. 54.0%), while not affecting DM intake (P = 0.61). The DFM mixture-A induced a safer ruminal pH environment and encouraging fiber degradation and NH3-N release, while not affecting animal intake
353 Neonatal Holstein Calves fed a Pelleted Calf Starter Containing a Botanical Extract and Direct-fed Microbial (DFM) Alone or in Combination without or with Milk Replacer DFM
Authors: Casper David P , Olagunju Lydia , Anele Uchenna , Officer Michael , Klanderman Keith
Published: September 2022

Botanical extracts (BE; Adisseo North America, Altanta, GA) are known to enhance dry matter intake (DMI) and gut health, while direct-fed microbials (DFM), such as a actobacillus acidophilus fermentation product (RC: RumaCell DF 5G; Pacer Technology, Inc., Murtaugh, ID), had shown improved gut health and growth performance of growing Holstein calves. The hypothesis was this combination may be synergistic to neonatal calf growth performance. Eighty 2- to 5-d old Holstein bull calves were blocked by body weight (BW) and randomly assigned to one of 8 treatments arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial using a randomized complete block design. Main factors were 2 milk replacers (MR) without (Control) and with RC added at 5 g/d fed with calf starter (CS) main effect of 4 experimental CS being: 1) Control: no additives; or 2) BE added at 496 mg/kg to the calf starter (CS); 3) RC added to the CS at 2.50 g/kg; and 4) BE&RC: same BE and RC rates to CS. The CS was a 25% crude protein dry matter basis with the MR being a 22:20 (CP:fat) fed 2x/day at 0630 and 1800 h along with free choice water. Weaning occurred after d 42 for the 56-d experiment. No significant (P > 0.10) MR by CS interactions were detected for BW, BW gain, CS intake, total DMI, or feed conversion parameters. The BW gain (38.0 and 39.3 kg for Control and RC, respectively) for MR main effect was similar (P > 0.10) for calves fed both MR, while CS main effect (38.7, 39.7, 39.2, and 37.2 kg for Control, BE, RC, and BE&RC, respectively) were similar (P > 0.10) among all CS. This study demonstrated little calf growth performance and health benefits when feeding an BE and/or RC alone or in combination compared with calves fed Control.
PSII-A-10 Impact of Altered Photoperiod on Colostral IgA and Lactoferrin in Dairy Cattle
Authors: Connor Andrea , Alward Kayla , Duncan Jane , Cockrum Rebecca
Published: September 2022

Intake of poor-quality colostrum reduces thriftiness and survival of dairy calves and cost dairy producers in 2017 $70 per head for each calf receiving poor quality colostrum. Studies suggest levels of lactoferrin and IgA within good colostrum are 1.5 - 5 mg/ml and 5.36 mg/ml respectively. Today, producers are recommended to expose cows to short-day photoperiod (SDPP) during the dry period as this has been shown to increase milk production during the next lactation. However, the impact of SDPP on colostrum quality is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of day length during the entire dry period on the colostrum quality. We measured the levels of lactoferrin and IgA from both Jersey and Holstein dry cows (n=33) exposed to 8 hours of light for SDPP (n=9 Holstein, n=8 Jersey) or 16 hours of light for long-day photoperiod (LDPP) (n=8 Holstein, n=8 Jersey) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Bethyl Laboratories). Colostrum samples were collected from the cows, skimmed and frozen at -20oC until assayed. Data were analyzed with SAS 9.4. We found that the levels of lactoferrin and IgA did not differ between breed and photoperiod treatment (P = 0.57, P = 0.46, respectively). The average for lactoferrin in SDPP animals was 1.41 mg/mL and 1.55 mg/mL for LDPP. The average for IgA in SDPP animals was 5.08 mg/mL and 3.88 mg/mL for LDPP. Based on these data we suggest that dry period photoperiod exposure does not impact colostral IgA or lactoferrin levels.
PSVIII-B-7 Effects of Chitosan Supplementation on Growth Performance and Blood Metabolites in Broiler Chicks
Authors: Peña Edgar , Benítez-Hernández Asahel
Published: September 2022

Chitosan is a natural polymer with different bioactive properties that can be used in non-ruminant species as chicks. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the dietary inclusion of 0.55% of chitosan on growth performance and blood metabolites in Rhode Island Red chicks under confinement conditions. A total of 30 chicks with an average weight of 36 g were assigned to randomized design and housed in cages of 5 animals and assigned to one of the following treatments for 21 days: 1) control diet, 2) control diet + chitosan 0.55% (CH55). Initial and final weight, feed intake and feed conversion were analyzed; additionally blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment to analyze glucose, cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins, triglycerides and total protein. The results indicate that supplementation of chitosan improves the final weight in chickens and daily weight gain up to 17% (P< 0.05). On the other hand, in blood metabolites, an increase in glucose concentration was found due to the addition of chitosan in the diet (P< 0.05). The remaining variables did not show significant changes by chitosan supplementation and were within the reference range, which suggests that the addition of chitosan improved growth parameters but did not alter the health status of chicks.
Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Racially/Ethnically Diverse Youth With Diabetes
Authors: Valenzuela Jessica M , Dimentstein Karen , Yee Shanique , Pan Bernard , Snyder Meg C , Wolf Risa M
Published: September 2022

Objective

This study examined caregiver perceived impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on a diverse sample of U.S. youth with diabetes and their families.

Methods

Caregivers of youth with diabetes completed an electronic survey in English or Spanish at two sites. Participants provided demographic and disease characteristics and completed the COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Scales (CEFIS). Glycemic health was assessed via Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from medical chart review. Analysis of variance and analyses of covariance were utilized to examine racial/ethnic differences in glycemic health and in COVID-19 Exposure, Impact, and Distress scales. Hierarchical linear regression was conducted to predict HbA1c. Thematic analysis was conducted on open-ended responses regarding the effects of COVID-19 on youth and families’ overall and diabetes-related well-being.

Results

Caregivers (n = 114) of youth with diabetes (M = 12.6 ± 3.5 years) completed study measures. Mean HbA1c for Non-Hispanic White youth was lowest and significantly different from Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black youth. Exposure to COVID-19 stressors differed by race/ethnicity (p < .05) with Hispanic caregivers reporting greatest exposure. CEFIS scales did not predict HbA1c after controlling for demographic/disease variables. Caregivers described child/family changes during COVID (e.g., more time together, health-related hypervigilance), as well as differences in diabetes management during COVID-19.

Conclusions

Findings indicate differences in COVID-19 exposure but did not demonstrate other racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 impact or distress. Household income was the most important predictor of glycemic health. Addressing structural inequalities experienced by youth with diabetes and their families is critical. Recommendations to support families with diabetes are made.
Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Authors: Garg Sushil Kumar , Chari Suresh T.
Published: September 2022

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a type of chronic pancreatitis which is likely caused by immune dysregulation. There are two types of AIP. Type 1 AIP is a pancreatic manifestation of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease. It presents with painless obstructive jaundice and diffuse swelling of the pancreas on imaging. It is seen more commonly in elderly males. Approximately two-thirds of patients with type 1 AIP have elevated serum IgG4 levels. It is characterized histologically by dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, storiform fibrosis, and obliterated phlebitis. Type 1 AIP responds very well to steroids but has a high risk of relapse and patients frequently need steroids, immunomodulators, or rituximab to maintain remission. Type 2 AIP primarily affects the pancreas. It affects male and female patients equally in the third to fourth decade of life. These patients do not typically have elevated serum IgG4 levels or any other biomarkers, and tend to have more focal or segmental involvement than diffuse involvement of the pancreas. It is characterized histologically by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and intraluminal and intraepithelial neutrophils in the small and medium ducts. These patients respond to steroids and the likelihood of relapse is low.
Neuroendocrine Tumours of the Pancreas
Authors: Bhandare Manish S. , Gupta Vikas , Chaudhari Vikram A. , Shrikhande Shailesh V.
Published: September 2022

Most pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (p-NETs) have a sporadic occurrence and less than 10% form a part of various familial syndromes. Broadly, they can be classified as functional and non-functional tumours, based on the presence or absence of hormone secretion. Biological aggressiveness of p-NETs is determined by their degree of differentiation and rate of proliferation, and they are graded as per the World Health Organization’s classification into three grades (G1, G2, and G3). For evaluation and accurate staging of p-NETs, functional imaging has become an integral part of work-up and also guides treatment planning. Treatment decisions largely depend on the patient’s functional status and symptoms, the histological grade and size of the lesions, and the presence or absence of metastatic disease. Treatment options for p-NETs range from curative surgery to observation with close follow-up to palliation and medical therapies, including somatostatin analogues, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), chemotherapy, and targeted treatments.
Antiseizure Medications
Authors: Asadi-Pooya Ali A. , Sperling Michael R.
Published: September 2022

The prevalence of epilepsy ranges between 0.6% and 1%, and perhaps 70 million worldwide suffer from this condition. The mainstay of treatment is drug therapy. In the past decade, many new antiseizure medications (ASMs) have been introduced, so that there are now approximately 30 medications available to treat epilepsy. The healthcare provider therefore has many choices. However, having many alternatives also allows for the possibility of choosing an inappropriate or a suboptimal agent. For most seizures, there is little difference in efficacy between the different agents, and other factors chiefly influence drug selection. These include the potential adverse effects, comorbid conditions, concomitant medications, age, and gender, among others. The choice of medication should be guided by knowledge and familiarity with the ASMs. This book is designed as a practical tool for physicians and other healthcare providers. While the authors include a brief formal discussion of the basic pharmacology of each ASM, this text emphasizes how to select and use ASMs in a variety of clinical contexts. The authors discuss choosing drugs when faced with various medical comorbidities; how to correctly prescribe, titrate, and taper drugs; how to monitor drug efficacy and side effects; how to diagnose and manage toxicity; interactions with other drugs; and other relevant issues. The text is designed to fill an unmet need and should lead to improved patient care.
Monitoring Antiseizure Medications and Their Toxicity
Authors: Asadi-Pooya Ali A. , Sperling Michael R.
Published: September 2022

There is a correlation between the serum concentration of any antiseizure medication (ASM) and its therapeutic and toxic effects. Therapeutic drug monitoring seeks to optimize the desirable effects of ASMs while minimizing their undesirable properties. Because the therapeutic level varies between patients, the role of drug monitoring is somewhat controversial, with some clinicians holding the view that levels are irrelevant as long as seizures are controlled. However this requires hoping that a seizure does not occur while time passes, a situation that may be unacceptable to many patients. Therefore, it may be advantageous to obtain baseline serum levels to ensure that drug concentrations are within the range generally found in patients who either respond to medication or who take a dose known to be therapeutic.
Antiseizure Medications in the Elderly
Authors: Asadi-Pooya Ali A. , Sperling Michael R.
Published: September 2022

Epilepsy is a common neurological problem in the elderly. Seizures in the elderly can be caused by strokes, brain tumors, trauma, infectious causes, toxic and metabolic causes, and degenerative diseases. While similar principles of drug selection apply to elderly individuals and to younger patients, certain factors carry greater weight in the elderly. Selection of the appropriate therapy should be guided by the recognition that older patients often have comorbidity and receive multiple medications. Decreased efficiency of renal and hepatic clearance and altered metabolism must all be considered when choosing a safe and effective antiseizure medication for an elderly patient.
Antiseizure Medications in Patients with Hematological Disorders
Authors: Asadi-Pooya Ali A. , Sperling Michael R.
Published: September 2022

Many antiseizure medications (ASMs) are associated with hematological toxicity. A wide spectrum of hematological abnormalities can be seen after prescribing an ASM, ranging from mild thrombocytopenia or neutropenia to anemia, red cell aplasia, or even bone marrow failure. The magnitude of the problem is illustrated by the fact that at least one hematological abnormality was noted in 33% of patients taking valproate in one study. Fortunately, potentially fatal hematological disorders are rare; for example, aplastic anemia has an incidence of only a few cases per million per year. Nonetheless, knowledge of the hematological adverse effects of these drugs is crucial when selecting ASMs in patients with epilepsy.
Antiseizure Medications in Patients with Stroke
Authors: Asadi-Pooya Ali A. , Sperling Michael R.
Published: September 2022

Stroke and cerebrovascular lesions are the main cause of epilepsy in the elderly. Many similarities exist between cerebral ischemia and epilepsy regarding brain damage and autoprotective mechanisms that are activated following the injurious insult. Therefore, drugs that are effective in minimizing seizure-induced brain damage may also be useful in minimizing ischemic injury. On the other hand, some antiseizure medications (ASMs) may have detrimental effects in stroke patients, and there is evidence that recovery is worse in patients treated with particular ASMs after stroke. Thus, when selecting an ASM for a patient with stroke, one must consider its impact on comorbidity and comedications, its adverse effects, and its cost, among other factors.
Antiseizure Medications in Patients with Migraine Headaches
Authors: Asadi-Pooya Ali A. , Sperling Michael R.
Published: September 2022

Two disorders are comorbid if they occur in the same person more frequently than by chance alone. Migraine and epilepsy appear to be comorbid. Migraine and epilepsy share several clinical features and may share some common pathophysiological mechanisms. Both are considered disorders of neuronal hyperexcitability, in that initial excessive neuronal activity in migraine leads to cortical spreading depression and aura, with the subsequent recruitment of the trigeminal nucleus leading to central sensitization and pain. In epilepsy, neuronal overactivity leads to the recruitment of larger populations of neurons firing in a rhythmic manner that constitutes an epileptic seizure. In addition, similar triggering factors have been identified for both migraine and epilepsy. Some antiseizure medications (ASMs) are effective in reducing migraine frequency.
Dopamine Antagonist-Induced Parkinsonism
Authors: Eid Abdulmunaim M. , Ondo William G.
Published: September 2022

Drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) can be defined as parkinsonism (at least two of four cardinal features) occurring in temporal relationship to medications known to lessen dopaminergic functioning. In fact, one of the first suggestions that dopamine may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease was based on observing the effects of reserpine, a dopamine depleter, on movements. Individual susceptibility, genetic factors, older age, female sex, and higher doses of offending drugs that have more affinity to D2/D3 receptor for longer durations are known risk factors. However, the pathophysiology is likely more complex than simply blocking dopamine receptors. It’s nearly impossible to differentiate between DIP and idiopathic Parkinson’s disease based on clinical manifestations alone. DaTscan and other dopamine imaging modalities, transcranial sonography of the midbrain, and cardiac sympathetic imaging are more reliable in differentiating the two conditions and, in some cases, can predict which patients have underlying degenerative parkinsonism. Treatments of DIP include withdrawal of the offending drug or decreasing the dose, switching to a drug with less risk, and adding pharmacological agents such as amantadine, anticholinergics, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Akathisia
Authors: Mohite Satyajit , Osman Ossama T. , Shahani Lokesh , Teixeira Antonio L.
Published: September 2022

Akathisia is a frequently overlooked syndrome characterized by the subjective complaint of restlessness often with objective increase in movements, including pacing, rocking, and inability to sit or stand still. It is usually noticed within days or weeks of either starting or stopping antipsychotic treatment or changing dosage. Its clinical presentation may resemble other conditions such as anxiety and psychomotor agitation. The management of akathisia involves three steps: prevention, antipsychotic drug adjustment, and symptomatic strategies. Risks and benefits of antipsychotics should always be weighed-in to avoid akathisia. Even though second-generation antipsychotics were considered to have reduced risk for akathisia, recent data suggest that using second generation antipsychotics with high risk of akathisia would be as harmful as using any first-generation antipsychotics. Combinations, rapid upward or downward titrations, and sudden discontinuation of antipsychotics should be avoided. Beta blockers, anticholinergics, serotonergic medications, and benzodiazepines can help control the symptoms of akathisia.
Catatonia and Hypokinetic Movement Disorders
Authors: Mian Nidaullah , Bejjani Carla , Mehanna Raja
Published: September 2022

This chapter will discuss non-iatrogenic hypokinetic movement disorders. It will first discuss catatonia as an individual entity, then review hypokinetic movement disorders in depression and schizophrenia. The prototype of a hypokinetic or withdrawn catatonia presentation would be a patient manifesting features such as mutism, negativism, posturing, stupor, or obsessional slowness. Benzodiazepines are considered the first-line treatment for catatonia for their rapid onset of action and improvement in symptoms. Psychomotor retardation is recognized as one of the most fundamental features of major depression, involving changes in speech, facial expressions, eye movements, self-touching, posture, and speed and degree of voluntary movements. Parkinsonism in drug naïve schizophrenic patients is most often of the akinetic-rigid type, with bradykinesia and rigidity dominating the picture.
Individual Differences in Response to Trauma
Authors: Paris Joel
Published: September 2022

This chapter focuses in more detail on factors that can account for individual differences in the risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): temperamental and personality traits such as neuroticism. It argues that personality can be considered to be a psychological immune system that helps in the processing of life events. It reviews the basic concepts of behavioral genetics and shows how they apply to trauma and PTSD. It argues that many of the findings concerning the biological correlates of PTSD reflect underlying vulnerabilities. The chapter also reviews the evidence that a previous history of trauma and/or mental disorder is an additionally strong risk factor for PTSD. It introduces the roles of historical and social factors in risk. The chapter goes on to further develop a biopsychosocial model of the disorder. Finally, it offers a review of the crucial difference between correlation and causation in understanding trauma.
Summary and Conclusions
Authors: Paris Joel
Published: September 2022

The final chapter briefly summarizes the conclusions of this book. It ends by recommending a biopsychosocial model of PTSD. In this view, PTSD emerges from genetic vulnerabilities associated with high levels of Neuroticism, with adverse environmental stressors that may precede exposure to trauma, and to failures in social support, and that all these factors work in interaction with each other. Failure to acknowledge these complexities has led to simplistic views of the disorder, as a result of trauma alone. Failing to acknowledge the complexities of pathways to PTSD affects the choice of psychotherapies, many of which are concerned with the processing of traumatic experiences as opposed to seeing responses to trauma in the context of personality and previous life experiences.
Gastrointestinal
Authors: Adhikari Sapana P.
Published: September 2022

This chapter includes various images that pertain to the gastrointestinal system. The first images depict the normal digestive system followed by an image depicting the normal structures that are evaluated with a complaints of abdominal pain. The next images depict gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis and ulcer, upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, hernia, esophageal foreign body, bowel obstruction, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, diverticular disease, constipation, perirectal abscess, hemorrhoids, and appendicitis.
Neurology
Authors: Adhikari Sapana P.
Published: September 2022

The chapter includes various images that pertain to the neurology system. The images depict a stroke, a transient ischemic attack, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis, benign positional vertigo, Bell’s Palsy, and concussion.
M6AREG: m6A-centered regulation of disease development and drug response
Authors: Liu Shuiping , Chen Lu , Zhang Yintao , Zhou Ying , He Ying , Chen Zhen , Qi Shasha , Zhu Jinyu , Chen Xudong , Zhang Hao , Luo Yongchao , Qiu Yunqing , Tao Lin , Zhu Feng
Published: September 2022

As the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic RNAs, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been discovered to play an essential role in cellular proliferation, metabolic homeostasis, embryonic development, etc. With the rapid accumulation of research interest in m6A, its crucial roles in the regulations of disease development and drug response are gaining more and more attention. Thus, a database offering such valuable data on m6A-centered regulation is greatly needed; however, no such database is as yet available. Herein, a new database named ‘M6AREG’ is developed to (i) systematically cover, for the first time, data on the effects of m6A-centered regulation on both disease development and drug response, (ii) explicitly describe the molecular mechanism underlying each type of regulation and (iii) fully reference the collected data by cross-linking to existing databases. Since the accumulated data are valuable for researchers in diverse disciplines (such as pathology and pathophysiology, clinical laboratory diagnostics, medicinal biochemistry and drug design), M6AREG is expected to have many implications for the future conduct of m6A-based regulation studies. It is currently accessible by all users at: https://idrblab.org/m6areg/