Probability of malignant degeneration of ovarian tumors. Clinical study on the probability of malignant degeneration

More than 600 cases of ovarian tumors were analyzed for histological type, age of patient, bilateral occurrence, mobility and malignant degeneration in restant ovaries. Tumors of germinal epithelial origin show the highest incidence (24%) of malignant degeneration, tumors of germ cells the lowest (3,5%). Incidence of malignant degeneration increases in relation to the age of the patient from 2% (and under 30 years) to 36,5% (60-70 years). Each form of tumor has its typical age peak, which is about 20 years higher for carcinomas than for their benign counterpart. Bilateral ovarian tumors are malignant in 29%, one-sided only in 13%. Among freely movable ovarian tumors, only 6% enclose a malignant tumor, among adhaerent ones 34%. The examination of the prognosis of granulosacell-tumors, dysgerminomas and teratoblastomas is based on a larger material.     

Short communication: use of culling information in genetic evaluation of fertility and mastitis in Norwegian red cows

Breeding values for clinical mastitis, interval from calving to first insemination, and 56-d nonreturn rate for heifers and primiparous cows, were predicted using multivariate linear-threshold sire models, with or without including information on culling during the first lactation. Breeding values for 3,064 sires were predicted using 3 data sets with an average of 273, 135, and 68 first-crop daughters per sire, respectively. For each data set, accuracies of selection for health and fertility traits were evaluated through the predictive ability of predicted sire breeding values with respect to phenotypic performance of second-crop daughters. The predictive ability of estimated breeding values for clinical mastitis and interval from calving to first insemination did not improve when including information on early culling, irrespective of the size of first-crop daughter groups. For 56-d nonreturn rates (heifer and primiparous cow), sire evaluations based on reduced size of daughter groups tended to predict performance of the future daughters slightly better when including data on early culling. Hence, for breeding programs with direct selection for health and fertility traits there is little to gain by including early culling as additional information.     

Inhibition of Bacillus cereus spore outgrowth and multiplication by chitosan

Bacillus cereus is an endospore-forming bacterium able to cause food-associated illness. Different treatment processes are used in the food industry to reduce the number of spores and thereby the potential of foodborne disease. Chitosan is a polysaccharide with well-documented antibacterial activity towards vegetative cells. The activity against bacterial spores, spore germination and subsequent outgrowth and growth (the latter two events hereafter denoted (out)growth), however, is poorly documented. By using six different chitosans with defined macromolecular properties, we evaluated the effect of chitosan on Bacillus cereus spore germination and (out)growth using optical density assays and a dipicolinic acid release assay. (Out)growth was inhibited by chitosan, but germination was not. The action of chitosan was found to be concentration-dependent and also closely related to weight average molecular weight (M_w) and fraction of acetylation (F_A) of the biopolymer. Chitosans of low acetylation (F_A = 0.01 or 0.16) inhibited (out)growth more effectively than higher acetylated chitosans (F_A = 0.48). For the F_A = 0.16 chitosans with medium (56.8 kDa) and higher M_w (98.3 kDa), a better (out)growth inhibition was observed compared to low M_w (10.6 kDa) chitosan. The same trend was not evident with chitosans of 0.48 acetylation, where the difference in activity between the low (19.6 kDa) and high M_w (163.0 kDa) chitosans was only minor. In a spore test concentration corresponding to 10²-10³ CFU/ml (spore numbers relevant to food), less chitosan was needed to suppress (out)growth compared to higher spore numbers (equivalent to 10⁸ CFU/ml), as expected. No major differences in chitosan susceptibility between three different strains of B. cereus were detected. Our results contribute to a better understanding of chitosan activity towards bacterial spore germination and (out)growth.     

Predictive abilities of different statistical models for analysis of survival data in dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to compare alternative trait definitions and statistical models for genetic evaluation of survival in dairy cattle. Data from the first 5 lactations of 808,750 first-crop daughters of 3,064 Norwegian Red sires were analyzed. Seven sire models were used for genetic analyses: linear and threshold cross-sectional models for binary survival scores from first lactation; a linear multi-trait model for survival scores from the first 3 lactations; linear and threshold repeatability models for survival scores from the first 5 lactations; a Weibull frailty model for herd life in first lactation; and a Weibull frailty model for herd life in the first 5 lactations. The models were compared to assess predictive ability of sire estimated breeding values with respect to average survival 365 d after first calving for second-crop daughters (not included in calculation of predicted transmitting abilities) of 375 elite sires. Generally, the linear multi-trait model analyzing survival in the first 3 lactations as correlated traits gave more-accurate predicted sire breeding values compared with both linear and Weibull frailty models using data from first lactation only, even when the latter models were extended to include data up to the sixth lactation. The Weibull frailty models did not improve predictive ability of sire estimated breeding values over what was obtained using a simple cross-sectional linear model for binary survival in first lactation.     

Embolization with temporary balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery and in vivo proton spectroscopy improves radical removal of petrous-tentorial meningioma

A highly vascular petroclival meningioma supplied by tentorial branches of the internal carotid artery was embolized by temporary balloon occlusion of the parent vessel distal to the tumor, followed by obliteration of the tumor vascularity with polyvinyl alcohol particles. Subsequently, in vivo proton spectroscopy showed necrosis of a large portion of the tumor and helped determine the timing of surgery. Both innovative techniques considerably facilitated the subsequent radical excision of the tumor with no neurological morbidity.     

Pleiotropic,Unique and Shared Responses Elicited by IL-6 Family Cytokines in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells

Vascular endothelial cells express glycoprotein 130 (gp130), which is utilized as a signaling receptor by cytokines in the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family. Several IL-6 family cytokines can be found in the circulatory system during physiological or pathological conditions, and may influence endothelial function and response. This study evaluated and compared the cellular and molecular responses induced by IL-6 family cytokines in human endothelial cells. A proteomic analysis showed that IL-6 family cytokines induce the release of a range of proteins from endothelial cells, such as C-C motif chemokine ligand 23, hepatocyte growth factor, and IL-6. Pathway analysis indicated that gp130-signaling in endothelial cells regulates several functions related to angiogenesis and immune cell recruitment. The present investigation also disclosed differences and similarities between different IL-6 family cytokines in their ability to induce protein release and regulate gene expression and intracellular signaling, in regards to which oncostatin M showed the most pronounced effect. Further, this study showed that soluble gp130 preferentially blocks trans-signaling-induced responses, but does not affect responses induced by classic signaling. In conclusion, IL-6 family cytokines induce both specific and overlapping molecular responses in endothelial cells, and regulate genes and proteins involved in angiogenesis and immune cell recruitment.     

Predicting and rationalizing the effect of surface charge distribution and orientation on nano-wire based FET bio-sensors

A single charge screening model of surface charge sensors in liquids (De Vico et al., Nanoscale, 2011, 3, 706-717) is extended to multiple charges to model the effect of the charge distributions of analyte proteins on FET sensor response. With this model we show that counter-intuitive signal changes (e.g. a positive signal change due to a net positive protein binding to a p-type conductor) can occur for certain combinations of charge distributions and Debye lengths. The new method is applied to interpret published experimental data on Streptavidin (Ishikawa et al., ACS Nano, 2009, 3, 3969-3976) and Nucleocapsid protein (Ishikawa et al., ACS Nano, 2009, 3, 1219-1224).     

Trans isomeric octadecenoic acids are related inversely to arachidonic acid and DHA and positively related to mead acid in umbilical vessel wall lipids

Long-chain PUFA play an important role in early human neurodevelopment. Significant inverse correlations were reported between values of trans isomeric and long-chain PUFA in plasma lipids of preterm infants and children aged 1–15 yr as well as in venous cord blood lipids of full-term infants. Here we report FA compositional data of cord blood vessel wall lipids in 308 healthy, full-term infants (gestational age: 39.7±1.2 wk, birth weight: 3528±429 g, mean±SD). The median (interquartile range) of the sum of 18-carbon trans FA was 0.22 (0.13)% w/w in umbilical artery and 0.16 (0.10)% w/w in umbilical vein lipids. Nonparametric correlation analysis showed significant inverse correlations between the sum of 18-carbon trans FA and both arachidonic acid and DHA in artery (r=−0.38, P<0.01, and r=−0.20, P<0.01) and vein (r=−0.36, P<0.01, and −0.17, P<0.01) wall lipids. In addition, the sum of 18-carbon trans FA was significantly positively correlated to Mead acid, a general indicator of EFA deficiency, in both artery (r=+0.35, P<0.01) and vein (r=+0.31, P<0.01) wall lipids. The present results obtained in a large group of full-term infants suggest that maternal trans FA intake is inversely associated with long-chain PUFA status of the infant at birth.     

Characterization of Biomimetic Cofactors According to Stability,Redox Potentials,and Enzymatic Conversion by NADH Oxidase from Lactobacillus pentosus

Oxidoreductases are attractive biocatalysts that convert achiral substrates into products of higher value, but they are also for the most part dependent on nicotinamide cofactors. Recently, biomimetic nicotinamide derivatives have received attention as less costly alternatives to natural cofactors. However, recycling of biomimetics is still challenging because there are only limited opportunities. Here, we have characterized various biomimetic cofactors with regard to stability and redox potentials to find the best alternative to natural cofactors. Further, the cofactor spectrum of NADH oxidase from Lactobacillus pentosus (LpNox) could be expanded, and the enzymatic activity was also compared to activities with different small‐molecule catalysts. As a result, we succeeded in identifying several strategies for regeneration of oxidized biomimetics.