Animal rights and animal health on ecological farms

Intensive animal husbandry is criticized in relation to the fulfillment of the animals needs. The guidelines of the organizations of organic agriculture offer the opportunity for better animal welfare. In this paper an overview is given concerning animal health and welfare on organic farms with dairy cows, fattening pigs and laying hens. On organic farms housing systems with the potential for a better animal welfare dominate. In field studies using scoring systems (animal welfare index) organic farms reach more points than conventional ones. However, animal health on average is not much better on organic farms. The health problems discussed in the paper are mainly caused by management problems. Therefore, improvements are possible.     

Immunoreactivity of Brazilian HIV isolates with different V3 motifs

The influence of noncompetitive (MK-801), competitive (AP-7) and the antagonist of polyamines site of NMDA receptor (arcaine) on the central activity of angiotensin II (A II) was studied. The open field test, conditioning of active avoidance responses (CARs) and passive avoidance situation was used to investigate learning and memory in rats. All used antagonists decreased beneficial action of A II on these processes.     

Clinical characteristics of patients with hypertension resistant to antihypertensive drug therapy

Two groups of hypertensive patients: 137 responsive (on one or two drugs) and 162 resistant on antihypertensive treatment in the similar age were compared. Resistant patients (on three or more drugs) characterize by significantly higher body weight and BMI, longer history of hypertension, more frequent hypertension prevalance in family members and lower education. Level of triglycerides in resistant on antihypertensive treatment patients was significantly higher than in responsive patients. Insulin level in blood in 31 patients with essential hypertension was significantly higher than in 36 healthy persons and 20 patients with renovascular hypertension and resistant on antihypertensive therapy. In 14 patients with essential hypertension resistant to treatment insulin level one hour after oral glucose load was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in 16 patients with essential hypertension responsive to antihypertensive treatment.     

Surface exposure and species specificity of an immunoreactive domain of a 66-kilodalton outer membrane protein (P66) of the Borrelia spp. that cause Lyme disease

A chromosomally encoded 66-kDa protein (P66) of Borrelia spp. that cause Lyme disease has previously been shown to be associated with the spirochetal outer membrane. A topological model of P66 predicts a surface-exposed fragment which links the N- and C-terminal intramembranous domains of the protein (J. Bunikis, L. Noppa, and S. Bergstr?m, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 131:139-145, 1995). In the present study, an immunogenic determinant of P66 was identified by a comparison of the immunoreactivities of different fragments of P66 generated either by proteolytic treatment of intact spirochetes or as recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli. The immune response to P66 during natural infection was found to be directed against the predicted surface domain which comprises amino acids at positions 454 through 491. A sequence comparison revealed considerable polymorphism of the surface domains of P66 proteins of different Lyme disease-causing Borrelia species. Five sequence patterns of this domain were observed in the B. garinii strains studied. In contrast, sequences of the relevant part of P66 of the B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto isolates studied were identical within the respective species. In immunoblotting, 5 of 17 (29.4%) sera from North American patients with early disseminated or persistent Lyme disease reacted against P66 of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto B31. These sera, however, failed to recognize P66 of B. afzelii and B. garinii, as well as an analog of P66 in the relapsing fever agent, B. hermsii. In conclusion, the topological model of P66 is supported by the demonstration of an apparent surface localization of an immunoreactive domain of this protein. Furthermore, analogous to the plasmid-encoded borrelial outer surface proteins, the predicted surface-exposed portion of chromosomally encoded P66 appears to be antigenically heterogenous.     

Characterization of platelet-activating factor synthesis in glomerular endothelial cell lines

Platelet-activating factor synthesis in two transformed lines of glomerular endothelial cells was characterized and contrasted with platelet-activating factor production in macrovascular-derived endothelial cells as well as with glomerular cells of mesenchymal origin. Platelet-activating factor synthesis was assessed in intact cells and in cell-free preparations. Glomerular endothelial cells constitutively synthesize bio-active alkyl-PAF, and this basal activity can be chronically augmented by various inflammatory and thrombotic agents. In contrast, thrombin-mediated platelet-activating factor formation in bovine pulmonary aortic endothelial cells as well as in glomerular mesangial cells is acute and transient. The potential role of anti-inflammatory prostanoids to function as negative feedback modulators of thrombin- or endothelin-mediated platelet-activating factor synthesis was also investigated, as the synthesis of platelet-activating factor is often associated with the formation of these prostanoids. Indomethacin augmented receptor-mediated platelet-activating factor synthesis while prostanoids of the E and I series reduced agonist-stimulated PAF synthesis. In summary, the unique capacity of glomerular endothelial cells to respond to inflammatory stimuli with sustained platelet-activating factor synthesis is a clear indication of this cell's pivotal role in augmenting the inflammatory response in the limited environment of the glomerulus.     

An endo-acting proline-specific oligopeptidase from Treponema denticola ATCC 35405: evidence of hydrolysis of human bioactive peptides

An endo-acting proline-specific oligopeptidase (prolyl oligopeptidase [POPase], EC 3.4.21.26) was purified to homogeneity from the Triton X-100 extracts of cells of Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 (a human oral spirochete) by a procedure that comprised five successive fast protein liquid chromatography steps. The POPase is a cell-associated 75- to 77-kDa protein with an isoelectric point of ca. 6.5. The enzyme hydrolyzed (optimum pH 6.5) the Pro-pNA bond in carbobenzoxy-Gly-Pro-p-nitroanilide (Z-Gly-Pro-pNA) and bonds at the carboxyl side of proline in several human bioactive peptides, such as bradykinin, substance P, neurotensin, angiotensins, oxytocin, vasopressin, and human endothelin fragment 22-38. The minimum hydrolyzable peptide size was tetrapeptide P3P2P1P'1, while the maximum substrate size was ca. 3 kDa. An imino acid residue in position P1 was absolutely necessary. The hydrolysis of Z-Gly-Pro-pNA was potently inhibited by the following, with the Ki(app) (in micromolar) in parentheses: insulin B-chain (0.7), human endothelin-1 (0.5), neuropeptide Y (1.7), substance P (32.0), T-kinin (4.0), neurotensin (5.0), and bradykinin (16.0). Chemical modification and inhibition studies suggest that the POPase is a serine endopeptidase whose activity depends on the catalytic triad of COOH ... Ser ... His but not on a metal. The amino acid sequence around the putative active-site serine is Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn-Pro-Gly. The enzyme is suggested to contain a reactive cysteinyl residue near the active site. Amino acid residues 4 to 24 of the first 24 N-terminal residues showed a homology of 71% with the POPase precursor from Flavobacterium meningosepticum and considerable homology with the Aeromonas hydrophila POPase. The ready hydrolysis of human bioactive peptides at bonds involving an imino acid residue suggests that enzymes like POPase may contribute to the chronicity of periodontal infections by participating in the peptidolytic processing of those peptides.     

Chili pepper consumption and gastric cancer in Mexico: a case-control study

Laboratory studies indicate that capsaicin, the hot-tasting component of chili peppers, may be carcinogenic. A population-based case-control study was conducted in Mexico City during 1989-1990 to evaluate the relation between chili pepper consumption and gastric cancer risk. The study included 220 incident cases and 752 controls randomly selected from the general population. Information was collected by interview. Chili pepper consumers were at high risk for gastric cancer compared with nonconsumers (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio = 5.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.72-11.06). Among consumers, there was a highly significant trend of increasing risk with increasing self-rated level of consumption (low, medium, and high) (p = 2 x 10(-7). The odds ratio for high-level consumers compared with nonconsumers was 17.11 (95% CI 7.78-37.59). However, when consumption was measured as frequency per day, a significant trend among consumers was not observed. Multivariable adjustment increased the magnitude of the chili pepper-gastric cancer association, but a significant trend among consumers (measured as frequency per day) was still not observed. Chili pepper consumption may be a strong risk factor for gastric cancer, but further studies are needed to test this hypothesis.     

Fever, negative blood culture findings and absence of response to antibiotic therapy in a patient after a second aortic valve prosthesis

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 53-year-old patient had a prosthetic valve (St. Jude Medical 25) 9 years ago because of a Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis with severe aortic regurgitation. An initially mild, progressively more severe, aortic regurgitation then developed as a result of an empty paravalvular abscess cavity, requiring another valve replacement. Fever started on the 3rd postoperative day and persisted despite combined treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycoside. INVESTIGATIONS: At first no infectious focus could be identified radiologically or by echocardiography. But transoesophageal echocardiography revealed vegetations in the old abscess cavity. Several blood cultures were negative, while serological tests gave markedly raised antibody titers against Coxiella burnetii. DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND COURSE: Assuming Coxiella burnetii endocarditis the patient was given doxycycline, 2 x 100 mg daily and cotrimoxazole, 1 x 960 mg daily. The fever subsided and the vegetations had disappeared after four weeks. Because of the high risk of recurrence the antibiotic treatment was to be continued for two years. CONCLUSION: Coxiella burnetii should be considered as a possible cause of fever of unknown origin, especially in patients with existing or operated cardiac valvar defects, when endocarditic vegetations have been demonstrated and several blood cultures have been negative.