Effects of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, and cortisol on periparturient antibody response profiles of dairy cattle

The objectives of this study were to determine hormone and antibody response profiles from the prepartum period to peak lactation, and evaluate potential immunomodulatory effects of the classic endocrine hormones, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and cortisol. Specifically, 33 Holstein cows were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and Escherichia coli J5 at weeks -8 and -3 prior to parturition. At parturition (week 0), cows received an additional immunization of OVA. Blood was collected at weeks -8, -3, 0, 3 and 6 relative to parturition and various samples were used to determine plasma hormone concentration, serum immunoglobulin (Ig), and specific antibody response to OVA and E. coli. Colostrum and milk samples were also collected post-parturition to monitor local immunoglobulin and antibody responses. Results indicated that not all periparturient cows exhibited depressed immune response, and that antibody response to OVA could be used to partition cows into 3 groups recognizing animals with sustained measurable antibody response before and after parturition (Group 1), animals which responded poorly to immunization at parturition (Group 2), and animals which did not respond to immunizations at week -3 or parturition (Group 3). Cows with the highest antibody response to OVA (Group 1) also tended (P < or = 0.10) to have the highest response to E. coli J5 at parturition and had the lowest incidence of disease, particularly mastitis. Antibody response to OVA measured in milk tended to be higher in Group 1 cows, particularly at week 0 (P < or = 0.06) compared to cows of Group 3. IGF-I was higher (P < or = 0.05) in cows of Group 1 than Group 3 at peak lactation (week 6).     

A hermeneutic analysis of the process of conducting clinical interviews

1. Although no right way to interview exists, an interviewer should develop a comfortable, personal style. 2. Allowing an interview to follow its own course while remembering the overall interview agenda will contribute to quality of the data. 3. Interviewing skills are enhanced as the interviewer develops a personal style and becomes comfortable as a practitioner.     

UV, Raman and XRD study of polymorphism of poly(methyl-n-propylsilane)

Raman, UV and XRD studies have been performed to characterize the structures of differently prepared samples of poly(methyl-n-propylsilane). The results demonstrate polymorphism of this polymer between T_c and T_g. At room temperature the polymer can exist in up to four modifications which comprise one amorphous disordered phase and three more ordered modifications, differing in the interchain organization and in the silicon backbone conformations. The latter are considered to be deviant, transoid and all-anti, respectively. The number of the modifications present and relative amount of each strongly depends on the preparation method and thermal history of the sample as well as on the molecular weight.     

Molecular analysis of the third component of canine complement (C3) and identification of the mutation responsible for hereditary canine C3 deficiency

Genetically determined deficiency of the third component of complement (C3) in the dog is characterized by a predisposition to recurrent bacterial infections and to type 1 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The current studies were undertaken to characterize the cDNA for wild-type canine C3 and identify the molecular basis for hereditary canine C3 deficiency. Amplification, cloning, and sequence analysis indicated that canine C3 is highly conserved in comparison with human, mouse, and guinea pig C3. Southern blot analysis failed to show any gross deletions or rearrangements of DNA from C3-deficient animals. Northern blot analysis indicated that the livers of these animals contain markedly reduced quantities of a normal length C3 mRNA. The full-length 5.1-kb canine C3 cDNA was amplified in overlapping PCR fragments. Sequence analysis of these fragments has shown a deletion of a cytosine at position 2136 (codon 712), leading to a frameshift that generates a stop codon 11 amino acids downstream. The deletion has been confirmed in genomic DNA, and its inheritance has been demonstrated by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization.     

Antibody catalysis of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerization in the folding of RNase T1

An antibody generated to an alpha-keto amide containing hapten 1 catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl amide bonds in peptides and in the protein RNase T1. The antibody-catalyzed peptide isomerization reaction showed saturation kinetics for the cis-substrate, Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA, with a kcat/Km value of 883 s-1.M-1; the reaction was inhibited by the hapten analog 13 (Ki = 3. 0 +/- 0.4 microM). Refolding of denatured RNase T1 to its native conformation also was catalyzed by the antibody, with the antibody-catalyzed folding reaction inhibitable both by the hapten 1 and hapten analog 13. These results demonstrate that antibodies can catalyze conformational changes in protein structure, a transformation involved in many cellular processes.     

The CTFA Evaluation of Alternatives Program: an evaluation of in vitro alternatives to the Draize primary eye irritation test. (Phase III) surfactant-based formulations

The CTFA Evaluation of Alternatives Program is an evaluation of the relationship between data from the Draize primary eye irritation test and comparable data from a selection of promising in vitro eye irritation tests. In Phase III, data from the Draize test and 41 in vitro endpoints on 25 representative surfactant-based personal care formulations were compared. As in Phase I and Phase II, regression modelling of the relationship between maximum average Draize score (MAS) and in vitro endpoint was the primary approach adopted for evaluating in vitro assay performance. The degree of confidence in prediction of MAS for a given in vitro endpoint is quantified in terms of the relative widths of prediction intervals constructed about the fitted regression curve. Prediction intervals reflect not only the error attributed to the model but also the material-specific components of variation in both the Draize and the in vitro assays. Among the in vitro assays selected for regression modeling in Phase III, the relationship between MAS and in vitro score was relatively well defined. The prediction bounds on MAS were most narrow for materials at the lower or upper end of the effective irritation range (MAS = 0-45), where variability in MAS was smallest. This, the confidence with which the MAS of surfactant-based formulations is predicted is greatest when MAS approaches zero or when MAS approaches 45 (no comment is made on prediction of MAS > 45 since extrapolation beyond the range of observed data is not possible). No single in vitro endpoint was found to exhibit relative superiority with regard to prediction of MAS. Variability associated with Draize test outcome (e.g. in MAS values) must be considered in any future comparisons of in vivo and in vitro test results if the purpose is to predict in vivo response using in vitro data.