Sustainable Ornamental Fish Aquaculture: The Implication of Microbial Feed Additives

Ornamental fish trade represents an important economic sector with an export turnover that reached approximately 5 billion US dollars in 2018. Despite its high economic importance, this sector does not receive much attention. Ornamental fish husbandry still faces many challenges and losses caused by transport stress and handling and outbreak of diseases are still to be improved. This review will provide insights on ornamental fish diseases along with the measures used to avoid or limit their onset. Moreover, this review will discuss the role of different natural and sustainable microbial feed additives, particularly probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on the health, reduction in transport stress, growth, and reproduction of farmed ornamental fish. Most importantly, this review aims to fill the informational gaps existing in advanced and sustainable practices in the ornamental fish production.

Immunostimulatory effect of mannan-oligosaccharides supplementation diet in milkfish (Chanos chanos)

The current study was designed to examine the impacts of dietary mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) on growth, hemato-biochemical changes, digestive-antioxidant enzyme activity, immune response, and disease resistance of milkfish (Chanos chanos) fed diets contained MOS i.e. 1g, 2g, and 3g MOS. The growth parameters were significantly influence in milkfish fed all MOS diets, whereas the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly influence with 2g or 3g MOS diets. The total protein (TP), globulin (GB), and glucose (GLU) levels, amylase, protease, liver enzymes were found significantly high in fish fed 2g or 3g MOS diets; but, lipase, trypsin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes were increased significantly at 3g MOS diet. All MOS inclusion levels were significantly increased total and Lactobacillus intestinal microflora population. The oxidative enzymes activity as superoxide desmutase (SOD) and catalyze (CAT) were progressively increased with all MOS supplementation diet, but the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content were found significantly high in fish fed 2g or 3g MOS diets. Similarly, the reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase (GR) contents were observed significantly high level in fish fed 3g MOS diet. The phagocytic (PC) and lysozyme (LYZ) activities were found gradually increase in fish fed increasing level of MOS diets, while the respiratory burst (RB) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities were seen significant in fish fed 2g and 3g MOS diets. The current research work confirmed that C. chanos fed diets contained 3g kg^-1 MOS recorded better growth performance, digestive-antioxidant, immune response, and disease resistance.

Immunomulation effect of alginic acid and chitooligosaccharides in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

Individual and combined efficacy of chitooligosaccharides (COS) and alginic acid (AA) at 1 g, 2 g, and 3 g per kg diet was assessed on growth and disease resistance in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) against Edwardsiella ictaluri. Growth parameters including specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG), and feed conversion rate (FCR) were significant in fish fed 2 g and 3 g kg^-1 of COS or AA, and fish fed combined COS + AA at 1, 2 and 3 kg^-1 diet. In all groups, the survival rate (SR) was recorded 100%, except in group fed 2 g kg^-1 AA diet. All the hematological and biochemical profiles significantly increased in groups fed 2 g and 3 g kg^-1 of COS, AA, and COS + AA diets. Lipase and amylase enzyme activities and superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly increased in fish fed 2 g and 3 g kg^-1 of COS, AA, and COS + AA diet. Respiratory burst (RB), lysozyme (Lyz), reactive oxygen species (ROS) activities, and immunoglobuline (Ig) level were enhanced significantly in fish fed 2 g kg^-1 of COS or COS + AA and all 3 g kg^-1 diets, whereas nitric acid (NO) production and serum AP activity were improved in 2 g kg^-1 COS + AA and 3 g kg^-1 COS or COS + AA diets. Pro-inflammatory cytokine such as IL-8 mRNA transcriptions was significant in 2 g kg^-1 COS + AA diet and all 3 g kg^-1 diet. The IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine mRNA transcriptions were significant in 3 g kg^-1 COS or COS + AA diets. This study was confirmed that H. molitrix fed with 3 g kg^-1 COS or COS + AA diets were better activity when compared to other diet.

Changes in immune genes expression, immune response, digestive enzymes -antioxidant status, and growth of catla (Catla catla) fed with Astragalus polysaccharides against edwardsiellosis disease

The effect of four level of Astragalus polysaccharides (APs) supplementation diets, (CD: control diet and three experiment diet (E), EA: 100 mg kg^-1 APs; EB: 200 mg kg-1 APs; EC: 300 mg kg^-1 APs) on growth, changes in haemato-biochemical parameters and metabolic-digestive enzymes, enhancement of antioxidant activity, innate-adaptive immune response, and cytokine gene expression were studied in catla (Catla catla) against Edwardsiella tarda. The healthy and challenged groups fed the CD displayed no mortality, while fish fed EA or EC revealed 10% mortality, but the mortality was only 5% in diet EB. Fish fed diet EB and EC revealed significantly better growth rates and high RBC count during the experimental period. Albumin and globulin levels were significant improved when fish were fed the diet EB and EC from weeks 6-8. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significant ameliorated by EB feeding from weeks 4-8. In contrast, serum myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA)/lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), respiratory burst activity (RBA), bactericidal action (BCA), serum lysozyme activity (SLA), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), head kidney leukocytes response proliferation (HKLP), hemolytic action (HLA), hydrogen peroxides (H₂O₂), and immunoglobulin (Ig) were significantly improved from week 6-8. Groups fed the APs enriched diets had significant ameliorated interleukin (IL)-1β and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA expression after 6 and 8 weeks of feeding. However, IL-10 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-1 mRNA expressions were significant enhanced in catla fed all APs diets on week 8. APs enriched diets revealed significant improved tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF receptor-associated factor-6 (TRAF6) mRNA expression on week 4, but toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) and TLR4 mRNA expression were significant enhanced by diet EB and EC after weeks 6 and 8. Similarly, the lysozyme (Lyz)-C and Lyz-G mRNA levels in the head kidney (HK) increased by APs feeding on weeks 6 and 8, whereas the EB diet, the expression of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-1 (NOD1) was significantly improved on weeks 6 and 8, but NOD2 mRNA expression was only significant enhanced after 8 weeks of diet EB. By feeding healthy catla and E. tarda challenged fish fed diet EB, resulted in significantly increased growth, haemato-biochemical indices, metabolic-digestive enzymes, antioxidant activities, innate-adaptive immune responses, and cytokine gene expression mainly between 6 and 8 weeks.

Dietary plant pigment on blood-digestive physiology, antioxidant-immune response, and inflammatory gene transcriptional regulation in spotted snakehead (Channa punctata) infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The current study addressed to investigate the effect of lycopene (LYC) on blood physiology, digestive-antioxidant enzyme activity, specific-nonspecific immune response, and inflammatory gene transcriptional regulation (cytokines, heat shock proteins, vitellogenins) in spotted snakehead (Channa punctata) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In unchallenged and challenged fish treated with 200 mg LYC enriched diet the growth performance and digestive-antioxidant enzymes increased after 30 days, whereas with inclusion of 100 or 400 mg LYC in the diets, the increase manifested on or after 45 days. No mortality in fish treated with any LYC diet against P. aeruginosa was revealed. In the unchallenged and challenged fish the phagocytic (PC) activity in head kidney (HK) and spleen were significantly enhanced when fed the control diet or other LYC diets, whereas the respiratory burst (RB) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production significantly increased when fed the 200 mg diet for 45 and 60 days. Similarly, the lysozyme (Lyz) activity in the HK and spleen, and total Ig content in serum were significantly higher in both groups fed the 200 mg LYC diet for 15, 45, and 60 days. Heat shock protein (Hsp 70) was significantly improved in the uninfected group fed the 200 mg LYC diet for 45 and 60 days, but Hsp27 did not significantly change among the experimental groups at any time points. TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA pro-inflammatory cytokine expression significantly increased in both groups fed the 200 mg LYC diet after 45 and 60 days, while the IL-12 mRNA expression was moderate in both groups fed the same diet for 60 days. The IL-10 did not significant mRNA expression between groups at any sampling. The iNOS and NF-κB mRNA expression was pointedly high in both groups fed the 200 mg LYC diet on day 45 and 60. Vitellogenin A (VgA) mRNA was significantly higher in the uninfected fish fed the 100 and 200 mg LYC diets for 45 and 60 days, but VgB did not reveal significant difference between the treatment groups at any time points. The present results suggest that supplementation of LYC at 200 mg significantly modulate the blood physiology, digestive-antioxidant enzymes, specific-nonspecific immune parameters, and cytokines, Hsp, and vitellogenins in spotted snakehead against P. aeruginosa.

Study on antioxidant potential, immunological response, and inflammatory cytokines induction of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) in silver carp against vibriosis

Effect of dietary with 100, 200, and 300 mg kg^-1 glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on growth enhancer, blood physiology, digestive-antioxidant enzyme ability, innate-adaptive defense, and inflammatory cytokines induction was studied in silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix against vibriosis caused by Vibrio alginolyticus. Significant weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and 100% survival rate (SR) was attained non-infected health (NiH) fish fed in control or all GA diets on 30, 45, and 60 days. Both NiH and V. alginolyticus challenged (VaC) fish treated with 200 mg GA diet significantly (P < 0.05) exhibited an enhancement in leucocytes value on 30, 45, and 60 days. Albumin (AB) or total proteins (TP) levels were significantly (P < 0.05) better in both groups fed 200 GA on 45 and 60 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were also substantial (P < 0.05) in both groups fed 200 mg GA on days 30, 45, and 60; whereas glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly (P < 0.05) better in both groups received 200 mg GA on days 45 and 60. Phagocytic (PC) and lysozyme (Lyz) activities significantly enhanced in both groups fed 200 or 300 mg GA on 45 and 60 days. Respiratory burst (RB), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and immunoglobulin (Ig) production significantly (P < 0.05) increased in both groups administered 200 or 300 mg GA. Growth hormone (GH) mRNA was up regulated in 200 mg GA trial on 45 days and in 200 or 300 mg GA treatments on 60 days. The IL-8 cytokine mRNA expression was up-regulated in both groups 200 and 300 mg GA on days 45 and 60, whereas TNF-α mRNA expression was increased in 200 mg GA. In addition, IL-10 cytokine mRNA expression was up regulated in 200 mg GA on 45 days whereas it was increased in both 200 mg and 300 mg GA trial on 60 days. The present study revealed that feeding fish 200 mg GA per kg diet demonstrated a better growth, digestive-antioxidant activity, innate-adaptive defense, and inflammatory cytokines induction than lower or higher dosage of GA in H. molitrix against V. alginolyticus.

Hepatic antioxidant activity, immunomodulation, and pro-anti-inflammatory cytokines manipulation of κ-carrageenan (κ-CGN) in cobia, Rachycentron canadum against Lactococcus garvieae

The effects of dietary k-Carrageenan (k-CGN) at 10, 20, and 30 g kg^-1 on growth rate, hemato-biochemical indices, innate-adaptive parameters and modification of pro- and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines pathway in cobia, Rachycentron canadum against Lactococcus garvieae is reported. The weight gain (WG) increased substantially (P < 0.05) in all k-CGN treated groups; the specific growth rate (SGR) was significant in healthy uninfected normal (HuN) and L. garvieae challenged (LaC) groups fed with 20 g kg^-1k-CGN diet on 45 and 60 days. The white blood cell (WBC) counts, total protein (TP) level, total anti-oxidant (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) activities increased significantly when fed with 20 g and 30 g kg^-1k-CG diets on 45th and 60th day. The immunological parameters such as phagocytic (PC) index and the activity of phagocytic (PC), respiratory burst (RB), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alternate complement pathway (ACH₅₀), and lysozyme (LZM) were significantly enhanced with all k-CG diets in 45 and 60 days of treatment. No cumulative mortality (CM) in HuN group fed by control or any k-CGN diets. CM was 5% in LaC group fed with 20 g kg^-1k-CGN diet whereas in LaC groups fed with 10 g and 30 g kg^-1k-CGN diets the CM was 10%. The interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA transcripts were one-fold high (P < 0.05) in both HuN and LaC group fed all k-CGN enriched diets on 45 and 60 days. Similarly, IL-18 and TLR2 mRNA was one-fold high expression in both groups fed the 20 g and 30 g kg^-1k-CGN enriched diets on 45 or 60 days. Interferon gamma (IFNγ) and interferon regulatory factor 3/7 (IRF3/IRF7) mRNA transcripts did not change with any diet. IL-6, IL-10, and IL-11 mRNA were one-fold high expressions in both groups fed the 20 g and 30 g kg^-1k-CGN enriched diets on 45 and 60 days. However, the expression of CC1, CC3, and CCR9 pro-inflammatory chemokines mRNA did not vary with any control or k-CGN enriched diets. The results indicate that diet enriched with k-CGN at 20 g kg^-1 significantly influences the growth, antioxidant and innate-adaptive immune performance, and pro-anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines regulation in cobia against L. garvieae.

Influence of bamboo vinegar powder (BVP) enriched diet on antioxidant status, immunity level, and pro-anti-inflammatory cytokines modulation in Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch 1790) against Vibrio anguillarum

Effect of bamboo vinegar powder (BVP) on growth, immunity, disease resistance, and immune-related gene expressions in juvenile Asian sea bass (barramundi), Lates calcarifer against Vibrio anguillarum was investigated. V. anguillarum infected fish fed by 2g BVP kg^-1 diet exhibited significant growth, albumin (AB), serum total protein (TP), and globulin (GB) levels. Similarly, enhanced lysozyme (LZM), phagocytic (PC), anti-protease (AP), respiratory burst (RB), bactericidal (BC) activities and total immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were observed in fish fed 2g BVP kg^-1. In addition, use of 2g BVP kg^-1 in diet modulated several immune related gene expressions against Vibrio disease. This study exhibited a positive effect of dietary 2g BVP kg^-1 diet on hemato-biochemical and immunological responses, which enhance the immunocompetence and health status of L. calcarifer against V. anguillarum infection.

Efficacy of ulvan on immune response and immuno-antioxidant gene modulation in Labeo rohita against columnaris disease

This study reports the effect of ulvan enriched diet on the influence of growth, changes in hemato-biochemical indices, improvement of antioxidant system, enhancement of innate-adaptive immunity and modification of immuno-antioxidant genes expression in Labeo rohita against Flavobacterium columnaris. The weight gain (WG) was significantly high (P > 0.05) in unchallenged normal and challenged fish fed with diets enriched with 25 and 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan; the FCR was better (P > 0.05) when fed with 50 mg kg^-1 enriched diet. In normal fish fed with or without ulvan supplementation was noted 100% survival rate (SR). In both groups, the red blood cell (RBC) and while blood cell (WBC) counts increased significantly (P > 0.05) when fed with 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diet whereas the hemoglobin (Hb) level increased significantly on being fed with 25 and 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diets. The SOD activity was enhanced significantly in both groups fed with any dose of ulvan diets whereas the MDA and GPx activity increased only with 25 and 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diets. The phagocytic (PC) activity significantly increased with any enriched diet and control diet groups while the respiratory burst (RB) activity increased only with 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diet. The alternate complement pathway (ACP), activity of lysozyme (Lyz), and immunoglobuline M (IgM) were better in both groups fed with 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diet. The SOD and GPx antioxidant gene expression were significantly high in both groups fed with any ulvan diet while the Nrf2 gene expression was high with 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diet. The IL-1β, TNFα, hepcidin, Lyz, and IgM cytokines or proteins mRNA expression were significant in both groups fed with all ulvan supplement diet whereas the β-2M expression was significant only with 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diet. The present research indicates that both L. rohita groups fed with 50 mg kg^-1 ulvan diet significantly improved growth, antioxidant system, immune defense system, and immuno-antioxidant related gene expression against F. columnaris.

Impact of cinnamaldehyde on innate immunity and immune gene expression in Channa striatus against Aphanomyces invadans

The effect of cinnamaldehyde (CM) enriched diet on immunity and cytokine gene expression in Channa striatus against Aphanomyces invadans is reported. C. striatus was uniformly divided into eight groups (n = 25 fish each) and fed with formulated diets with 0, 5, 10, and 15 mg kg^-1 CM enriched diet. In healthy and infected groups fed with 5 mg kg^-1 diet the leukocytes count increased significantly after 4th week; with 10 mg kg^-1 CM diet the increase manifested after 6th week, but with 15 mg kg^-1 not even after 8th week. In both groups, 5 mg kg^-1 CM diet resulted in a significant increase in the serum total protein, albumin, and globulin levels after 4th week, whereas with other diets this effect was observed only after 6th week. Similarly, with any enriched diet the lysozyme activity increased significantly, but with 15 mg kg^-1 CM diet only after 6th week. In both groups the complement activity and lymphocyte production increased significantly when fed with 5 mg kg^-1 CM diet after 4th week while with other enriched diets only after 6th week. The phagocytic activity increased significantly in both groups fed with 5 mg kg^-1 CM diet after 6th week, whereas the SOD activity increased after 4th week. The IgM production increased significantly in both groups fed with 5 mg kg^-1 CM diet after 2nd week, while with 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CM diet after 4th week. In both groups, the expression of CXCR3α was significant on 4th week when fed with 10 mg kg^-1 CM diet, while in the healthy group fed with 15 mg kg^-1 CM diet the expression manifested earlier than 4th week. However, when fed with 10 and 15 mg kg^-1 CM diets the increase was observed on 6th week; whereas, the expression of MHC-I reached the maximum on 6th week with any enriched diet. The results indicate that in C. striatus the innate immunity and expression of cytokine and immune related genes were significantly modulated when fed with 5 mg kg^-1 CM diet on 4th week against A. invadans.

Effect of diet enriched with Agaricus bisporus polysaccharides (ABPs) on antioxidant property, innate-adaptive immune response and pro-anti inflammatory genes expression in Ctenopharyngodon idella against Aeromonas hydrophila

The effect of Agaricus bisporus polysaccharides (ABPs) supplemented diet on growth rate, antioxidant capacity, innate-adaptive immune response, proinflammatory and antiinflammatory genes expression in Ctenopharyngodon idella against Aeromonas hydrophila is reported. In both normal and challenged groups fed with 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg^-1 ABPs diets resulted in a significant weight gain and feed intake. The survival was 100% in normal fish fed without or with any ABPs diet; the challenged fish fed with 1.0 mg kg^-1 ABPs diet had 98.6% survival. The RBC and WBC counts, Hb, and Hct levels were significant in both normal and challenged groups fed with 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg^-1 ABPs diets. A significant increase in total protein and albumin level was observed in both groups fed with 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg^-1 ABPs diets. Significant increase in GPx, ROS, GR, GSH, PC, and MnSOD activity was observed in HK of both groups fed with 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg^-1 ABPs diets; similarly both groups when fed with the same ABPs diets showed significant Lz, C3, and C4 activity. However, both groups fed with 1.0 mg kg^-1 ABPs diet showed significant β-defensin, LEAP-2A, IL-6, and NF-κB P65 mRNA expression. Similarly, IFN-γ2, IL-10, and TNFα mRNA expressions were significant in both groups fed with 1.0 mg kg^-1 ABPs diet. The results indicate that both normal and challenged C. idella fed with a 1.0 mg kg^-1 ABPs diet had better growth, antioxidant status, immune response, and pro-anti-inflammatory gene modulation against A. hydrophila.

Impact of grape pomace flour (GPF) on immunity and immune-antioxidant-anti-inflammatory genes expression in Labeo rohita against Flavobacterium columnaris

This study evaluates the effects of dietary inclusion of grape pomace flour (GPF) on growth, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, innate-adaptive immunity, and immune genes expression in Labeo rohita against Flavobacterium columnaris. In both normal and challenged fish the growth rate, hematology and biochemical parameters significantly increased when fed with 200 and 300 mg GPF enriched diets; similarly the activities of antioxidants and innate-adaptive immune parameters, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), phagocytic (PC), respiratory burst (RB), alternative pathway complement (ACP), lysozyme (Lyz), and total immunoglobulin M (IgM) significantly increased in both groups. Similarly, the immune, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory-related gene mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in head kidney (HK) tissues. The challenged fish fed without GPF always exhibited lower values of all the studied parameters. The results indicate that both normal and challenged fish treated with 200 mg GPF inclusion diet had significantly enhanced growth rate, antioxidant status, and immune defense mechanisms than with 300 mg GPF diet in L. rohita against F. columnaris.

Effect of chrysophanic acid on immune response and immune genes transcriptomic profile in Catla catla against Aeromonas hydrophila

The effect of chrysophanic acid (CA) (2, 4, and 8 mg kg^-1) on the immunity and immune-related gene profile of Catla catla against Aeromonas hydrophila is reported. In both control and treated groups fed with 2 mg kg^-1 (2 CA), the phagocytosis, hemolytic, myeloperoxidase content, and superoxide anion production decreased significantly between 6th and 8th weeks, whereas when fed with 4 mg kg^-1 CA (4 CA) the H₂O₂ production and nitric oxide synthase increased significantly between 4th and 8th week. When fed with 2 CA and 4 CA diets, the total protein, bactericidal, and antibody titer increased significantly from the 4th week onwards. When fed with 2 CA, the IL-1β and IL-10 mRNA expression of head kidney leucocytes were significant between weeks 6 and 8. The expressions of toll-like receptors significantly increased when fed with a 4 CA diet from 4th week onwards. The 4 CA group significantly increased in TNF-α, TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (NOD), which influences protein expression, after the 4th week. The mRNA transcription of MHCI, lysozyme-chicken and goose type expressions significantly increased in 4 CA group within the 4th week. In summary, the dietary administration of 4 mg kg^-1 of CA (4 CA) provides better immunity and enhances the up-regulation of immune-related genes in Catla against A. hydrophila.

Dried lemon peel enriched diet improves antioxidant activity, immune response and modulates immuno-antioxidant genes in Labeo rohita against Aeromonas sorbia

The effect of diet enriched with dried lemon (Citrus limon) peel was fed to Labeo rohita at three different levels (0, 1, 2.5, and 5 g kg^-1) for a period of 60 days; the impact of the diet on the hematology, antioxidant activity and immunological reaction and gene expression against Aeromonas sorbia is reported. In both un-challenged and challenged groups treated with 2.5 g and 5 g kg^-1 dried lemon peel diets, the enhanced significant changes are: the weight gain and specific growth rate, white blood cell and total protein content, the antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione activities, the respiratory burst, alternative complement pathway, complement C3, and total immunoglobulin M levels. Similarly, the heat shock protein-70 and -90, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, interleukin-1β and -8, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, transforming growth factor beta, and immunoglobulin M were up-regulated significantly. Any dried lemon peel enriched diet increased the phagocytic and lysozyme activities significantly in both groups. In the un-challenged group treated with 0 g kg^-1 diet or in both groups treated with 2.5 g kg^-1 diet the SR was 100%. These results indicate that in both un-challenged and challenged-treated groups the 2.5 and 5 g kg^-1 dried lemon peel enriched diets positively modulate growth rate, physiology, and antioxidant status, innate-adaptive immune response as well as antioxidant and immune related gene expression in L. rohita against A. sorbia.

Influence of weather patterns and air quality on ecological population dynamics of ectoparasites in goats

Ectoparasitism has a damaging impact on the economy of goat production in India, but the factors influencing its distribution and dynamics are less explored. The present study was designed to investigate the influence of environmental factors like weather and air quality parameters on the occurrence of different types of ectoparasites in goats of two agro-climatic regions of India, viz. the Upper Gangetic Plain (UGP) and the Western Himalayas (WH). The prevalence survey for ectoparasitism among goats was conducted during the four distinct climatic seasons (winter, summer, monsoon, autumn) in both regions. The season-wise data of weather parameters (maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity in morning and evening, sunrise and sunset time, mean daily temperature and relative humidity, daily variation in temperature and relative humidity, and day length) and air quality parameters (air quality index (AQI), particulate matter 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), particulate matter 10 μm (PM₁₀)) of both regions were analyzed in relation with the ectoparasitic prevalence pattern of corresponding regions. The results depict a noticeable correlation between the studied parameters and seasonal variation in the occurrence of each type of ectoparasites. This outcome on the interaction of studied parameters and ectoparasitism is intriguing and it opens a huge scope for future studies on the biometeorological aspects of host-parasite ecological interplay and evolutionary biology. The better understanding of climatological aspects of ectoparasite occurrences helps goat farmers in formulating appropriate timely intervention strategies for the economic control of ectoparasites, which in turn tackles ectoparasiticidal drug resistance and reduces threat of vector-borne diseases.

Effect of cassic acid on immunity and immune-reproductive genes transcription in Clarias gariepinus against Edwardsiella tarda

The present study was investigated the dietary administration of cassic acid (CA) on growth, innate immunity, transcription profiles of estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormones as well as lysozyme enzyme determined in Clarias gariepinus against Edwardsiella tarda. The weight gain (WG), protein efficacy ratio (PER), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly improved in infected fish fed dietary administration with CA at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 diets. The survival is higher (96.7% and 98.3%) in the infected groups fed at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets. The red (RBC) and white (WBC) blood cells, hemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV) was found significantly high in the infected fish feeding at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets. Total protein and albumin were significantly increased with 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets among weeks 1-4 while the globulin and albumin: globulin ratio increased of these diet only after week 2. The phagocytic and respiratory burst activities were enhanced statistically the infected fish fed at 10 mg kg^-1 CA diet group whereas the production of superoxide anion (SOA) and nitric oxide (NO) were significantly increased at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets. The lymphocyte proliferation and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were significantly high the infected fish when fed at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets after 2nd week whereas the alternate complement activity (ACP), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lysozyme activity (Lyz) were observed at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets among weeks 1-4. The accumulative mortality was 10% in infected fish fed at 1 and 5 mg kg^-1 CA diets whereas 15% mortality found with 10 mg kg^-1 CA diet. The highest levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) mRNA expression found in gonad while the highest levels of follicle stimulating hormone-beta subunit (FSH-β) mRNA expression found in testis of the infected fish given at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets. The up-regulation of chick-type lysozyme (c-Lyz) mRNA was observed at 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets after 2nd week while goose-type lysozyme (g-Lyz) mRNA was up-regulation amongst weeks 1-4 of these diets. The present study suggested that E. tarda challenged fish after feeding with 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 CA diets did not affect growth and hemato-biochemical parameter, but it enhanced nonspecific immune system and improving ERα, FSH-β, c-Lyz, and g-Lyz mRNA expression in C. gariepinus against E. tarda.

Study the immunomodulation of anthracenedione in striped dwarf catfish, Mystus vittatus against pathogenic bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila

Anthracenedione is a derivative of anthraquinone aromatic organic natural pigments found in senna, aloe latex, rhubarb, cascara, lichens, and fungi having broad range of bioactivity, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-viral activities suggesting potential for clinical purpose of many diseases. The effect of anthracenedione enriched diet on growth, hematology, innate and adaptive immune parameters as well as protection from Aeromonas hydrophila in Mystus vittatus was reported. The weight gain, feed intake, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly increased in uninfected groups fed with 5 mg kg^-1 diet. The red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC) count and the percentage of lymphocytes were significantly augmented in both infected and uninfected groups feeding with any diet. The percentage of monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils and the biochemical profile such as total protein, albumin, and globulin also were significantly increased in the infected and uninfected groups fed with 5 mg kg^-1 enriched diet. The innate and adaptive immune parameters such as phagocytic activity, immunoglobulin M (IgM), respiratory burst activity, complement activity, and lysozyme activity were significantly increased in uninfected and infected groups fed with 5 or 10 mg kg^-1 diets but not with 1 mg kg^-1 diet. The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity is significantly increased in the uninfected and infected fish fed with 5 mg kg^-1 diet but the increase was not significantly observed in 1 or 10 mg kg^-1 diets. The nitric oxide (NO) production is significantly elevated in both uninfected and infected groups fed with 5 mg kg^-1 diet. On the other hand, the lymphocyte proliferation and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were significantly increased the infected and uninfected groups fed with 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 diets. The cumulative mortality was found 5% with 1 and 5 mg kg^-1 diet groups while it was observed 10% mortality with 10 mg kg^-1 diet group. Based on the results, it is observed that feeding the uninfected and infected groups with 5 mg kg^-1 anthracenedione diet resulted in better improvement of growth, hematological, biochemical, and innate as well as adaptive immune parameters in M. vittatus against A. hydrophila.

Effect of symbiotic supplemented diet on innate-adaptive immune response, cytokine gene regulation and antioxidant property in Labeo rohita against Aeromonas hydrophila

Administration of probiotic, prebiotic or symbiotic supplemented diets boosts the antioxidant property, pro and/or anti-inflammatory cytokine gene transcription, innate-adaptive immunity, growth rate and feed digestibility with very low or no mortality in healthy and infected (both groups) in Labeo rohita against Aeromonas hydrophila is reported. The probiotic diet increased the white blood cell (WBC) count and globulin (GB) level significantly on or after 6th week whereas with the symbiotic diet the increase was noted two weeks earlier in both groups; the total protein (TP) level also increased significantly when fed with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8, whereas with symbiotic diet the significant increase manifested earlier at 4th week itself. The serum phagocytic activity (PA), respiratory burst activity (RBA), complement C3 (CC3) level, alternative complement pathway (ACP), lysozyme activity (LA), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels in head kidney (HK) leucocytes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups fed with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8; with symbiotic diet from weeks 2-8; but with prebiotic diet only on 8th week. With probiotic diet the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased significantly (P < 0.05) on weeks 6 and 8; with symbiotic diet from weeks 4-8 but the prebiotics diet only on 8th week. However, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased significantly (P < 0.05) with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8 and with symbiotic diet from weeks 4-8. When healthy fish fed with any supplementation diet for a period of 30 days there was no mortality while 5%, 10%, and 10% mortality was observed in infected group fed with symbiotic, probiotic, and prebiotic supplementation diets. In head kidney (HK) leucocytes, the IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, and NF-κB gene transcriptions were significantly up-regulation in both groups when fed with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8, symbiotic diet from weeks 4-8 while the prebiotic diet only on 8th week. The iNOS expression was up-regulation significantly in both groups fed with probiotic and symbiotic diets on weeks 6 and 8; however, with any diet, the relative IL-10 and TGF-β gene expressions were down-regulated. The present study suggested that dietary administration of symbiotic diet elicited earlier antioxidant activity, innate-adaptive immune response, immune related cytokine gene modulation, and disease protection earlier i.e. on 4th week than with probiotic or prebiotic diets in L. rohita against A. hydrophila.

Effects of aloe-emodin on innate immunity, antioxidant and immune cytokines mechanisms in the head kidney leucocytes of Labeo rohita against Aphanomyces invadans

The effect of aloe-emodin incorporated diets on innate immune response, disease resistance, pro and/or anti-inflammatory cytokine gene transcription in Labeo rohita against Aphanomyces invadans is reported for the first time. In healthy and infected groups fed with 5 mg aloe-emodin enriched diet the white blood cell (WBC) count increased significantly (p > 0.05) after 6th week. In both groups fed with any enriched diet the biochemical parameters such as albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio did not vary significantly; however with 5 mg aloe-emodin diet the albumin and globulin levels increased significantly (p > 0.05) after 6th week. The serum phagocytic activity (PA), respiratory burst activity (RBA), serum complement C3 (CC3), and lysozyme activity (LA) did not increase with any diet between weeks 2 and 4, whereas with 5 mg aloe-emodin diet increased significantly in both groups after 6th week. The pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, and iNOS significantly modulated the expression in both groups on being fed with 5 mg aloe-emodin incorporation diet on 8th week. Healthy fish fed with any aloe-emodin diet did not suffer mortality. However, the infected fish fed with 1, 5, and 10 mg kg^-1 aloe-emodin diets registered 5%, 10%, and 15% mortality. The present study indicates that healthy and infected L. rohita exhibited enhanced innate immune response, disease resistance, pro and/or anti-inflamatory cytokine gene transcription levels against A. invadans.

Comparative immunostimulatory effect of probiotics and prebiotics in Channa punctatus against Aphanomyces invadans

In aquaculture and human health care probiotics and prebiotics have been widely used due to their important role in enhancing beneficial gut microbiota, promoting growth, increasing disease resistance, and positively modulating the host immune system. This study reports for the first time a comparative analysis on the effect of the probiotics and prebiotics on growth, digestive enzymes activity, antioxidant activity, and immune response in Channa punctatus against Aphanomyces invadans. Among the diets enriched with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) and Galactooligosaccharide (GOS) in C. punctatus, feeding 2.5 g kg^-1 diet did not significantly influence the mean weight gain (MWG) between weeks 2 and 4 in both the infected and control groups; however the increase in MWG became significant from weeks 6-8. Similarly, during this period the protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein intake (PI) did not increase significantly. The intestinal protease, lipase, and amylase enzyme activities also did not increase significantly between weeks 2 and 4, whereas the values increased significantly after 6 weeks in both groups when fed with dietary supplementation of S. cerevisiae and GOS. The total S. cerevisiae count significantly increased in the gut of infected and non-infected fish fed with S. cerevisiae and GOS diets while the total bacterial (TB) count decreased between weeks 6 and 8. The total superoxide dismutase (t-SOD) activity and the malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration increased significantly in the non-infected fish fed with S. cerevisiae and GOS supplementation diets between weeks 6 and 8 whereas the catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities increased significantly only on week 8. The innate immune parameters such as plasma lysozyme, acid phosphatase (ACP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities increased significantly in the infected and non-infected fish fed with S. cerevisiae and GOS containing diets after 6 weeks. Similarly, the plasma nitric oxide (NO) level and total protein (TP) content significantly increased in the non-infected fish fed with S. cerevisiae and GOS containing diets between weeks 6 and 8. In the control and the non-infected fish fed with S. cerevisiae and GOS enriched diets caused no mortality whereas 15% and 10% mortality was observed in the infected fish fed with S. cerevisiae and GOS diets, respectively. This study indicates that the infected and non-infected C. punctatus fed with dietary supplementation of GOS diet at 2.5 g kg^-1 had exhibited better growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, gut microbiota composition, and immune response than that of S. cerevisiae diet.

Th1/Th2 immune responses and oxidative stress in caprine flea allergy dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the common, often neglected skin disease of goats caused mainly by Ctenocephalides felis. This study aimed to evaluate the immuno-oxidative pathobiology of FAD in goats. Twelve goats from the same herd were divided into two groups of six animals each. The group I (FAD) included animals with natural flea infestation and severe dermatitis lesions. The group II (Healthy control) animals were free from any parasitic infestation. To assess the pathological changes, the markers of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity), and immune status (Tumour necrosis factor alpha, Interleukin 10, Transforming growth factor beta 1 and Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio) were evaluated from the blood and the serum samples. Remarkable oxidative stress and severe inflammatory response with Th2 cytokine dominance were observed in flea infested animals. Highly antigenic agents of fleas, either secretory or excretory or structural, induced severe inflammatory responses and significant oxidative stress in caprine FAD. Massive release of cytokines may be responsible for severe skin inflammation and lesions in FAD in contrast to other Th2 dominant ectoparasitic skin conditions of goats'.

Utilization of Euryale ferox Salisbury seed shell for removal of basic fuchsin dye from water: equilibrium and kinetics investigation

Euryale ferox Salisbury (E. ferox) is an environmentally and economically important wetland macrophyte.

A Comparison of Practice Pattern and Outcome of Twice-weekly and Thrice-weekly Hemodialysis Patients

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) options and practice varies in countries worldwide and is influenced by patients' choice, nephrologists' practice patterns, health system, payer practice, public policy, and socioeconomic factors. In India, hemodialysis (HD) remains the dominant RRT modality, and the practice is largely influenced by socioeconomics of the region of practice since third party payer is limited. Resource stretch to maximize outcome benefit is essential and HD session twice weekly is an improvized and cost-effective clinical practice. However, within the country, the patient characteristics, practice patterns, and outcomes of twice-weekly HD compared against patients dialyzed thrice weekly remain unclear. We did a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent twice- and thrice-weekly HD in a single center under similar settings. The patients on thrice a week dialysis were older and with a higher proportion of diabetics and were insured by private payers. Weight gain, ultrafiltration rates, blood pressures, and hemoglobin remained more favorable in the thrice-weekly patients. There was no significant difference in the hospitalization rates or mortality rates in the two groups. Patients who undergo twice-weekly HD have poorer intermediate measures of the outcome; although, morbidity and survival were not different in a small study population with short follow-up. The small sample size and the short duration of follow-up may limit the scope of findings of our study.

The role of routine laboratory studies and neuroimaging in the diagnosis of dementia: a clinicopathological study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the neuropathological diagnoses of longitudinally followed patients with potentially reversible causes of dementia and to examine the results of the "dementia work-up," especially neuroimaging, by comparison with the pathological diagnosis.

DESIGN

A neuropathologic series of 61 consecutive patients, with review of clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and pathological results.

RESULTS

Of the 61 patients, forty-eight (79%) had a clinical diagnosis of probable or possible Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compared with the pathological diagnosis, the sensitivity and specificity of the clinical diagnosis of AD were 96% and 79%, respectively. Of the 61 patients, 9 had abnormal laboratory tests, the correction of which did not improve the subsequent course. These patients were found to have AD8 and frontotemporal dementia on pathology. In two patients, neuroimaging was helpful in the clinical diagnoses of frontotemporal dementia and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Neuroimaging revealed cerebrovascular disease in 18 patients, only two of whom were suspected clinically. Pathology confirmed AD in 17 and PSP in 1 of these patients. Sensitivity and specificity for the clinical diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease in comparison with pathology were 6% and 98%, respectively. With the added information from neuroimaging, that sensitivity increased to 59% and specificity decreased to 81%.

CONCLUSIONS

All cases with abnormal laboratory or neuroimaging results had AD or some other neurodegenerative disease on pathology. The "dementia work-up" did not reveal any reversible causes for dementia in this group of patients. Neuroimaging may have a role, especially in the diagnosis of possible AD with concomitant cerebrovascular disease.

Approaches to memory loss in neuropsychiatric disorders

Many neuropsychiatric disorders affect memory. Brain regions important in the neuroanatomic substrate of memory include the hippocampus, and sections of the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices and the thalamus. Acetylcholine and many other neurotransmitters and neuromodulators including dopamine, glutamate, GABA, the catecholamines, and estrogen modulate cognitive function. Treatment approaches to memory loss typically use Alzheimer's dementia as the template, and are discussed in this report.

Novel presenilin 1 mutations associated with early onset of dementia in a family with both early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer disease

Two children of an adult with early-onset, autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer disease (AD) developed dementia in their late 20s and were subsequently found to have novel mutations in codon 434 of the presenilin 1 (PS1) gene on chromosome 14, a G-to-T substitution at nucleotide 1548 and a C-to-G substitution at nucleotide 1549. The younger of the 2 children had AD confirmed at postmortem examination. The disease course in these 3 individuals was characterized by cognitive and behavioral problems accompanied by myoclonus, seizures, and aphasia within 5 years after onset. Two grandparents had clinically diagnosed AD with stroke beginning at ages 78 and 66 years, but neither had a PS1 mutation. No other living family member was demented, nor did any other family member have the PS1 mutation. We conclude that the affected parent of the proband was a likely recent founder for these novel mutations in PS1. The family demonstrates the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of AD. Arch Neurol. 2000;57:1454-1457

Validity of family history for the diagnosis of dementia among siblings of patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease

We examined 180 siblings of 127 probands with probable or possible Alzheimer's dementia (AD) in a family study of AD. The overall sensitivity of a simple family history questionnaire was 64% and the specificity was 84%. Sensitivity improved 90-100% with minimal decline in specificity when we considered clinic-based vs. population survey patients. Higher education among informants and the availability of a spouse or a sibling as informant significantly increased sensitivity. Awareness of such factors may improve the yield of the family history in AD using a simple questionnaire.

Familial aggregation of Alzheimer disease among whites, African Americans, and Caribbean Hispanics in northern Manhattan

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer disease (AD) aggregates in families.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the familial aggregation and lifetime risk of AD to the age of 90 years in the first-degree relatives of patients with AD and unrelated controls among Caribbean Hispanics, African Americans, and whites in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York, NY.

METHODS

Family history of AD and demographic information were obtained from informants of 435 patients with probable or possible AD concerning 1577 siblings and parents and from 1094 controls without dementia concerning 3952 siblings and parents.

RESULTS

Lifetime risk of AD to the age of 90 years was 25.9% in relatives of patients and 19.1% in relatives of controls. Rate ratio (RR) for AD in relatives of patients compared with relatives of controls was 1.5 overall (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-1.9), and was greater for siblings (RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.5) than for parents (RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.9-1.8). Within ethnic groups, RR for AD among relatives was significantly elevated in whites (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.3) and Hispanics (RR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1), but the difference did not reach statistical significance in African Americans (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.7-2.7). Risk of AD was greater among relatives who were women compared with men (RR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Familial aggregation of AD was increased among families of patients compared with those of controls in all 3 ethnic groups. Risk of AD was highest among siblings and women relatives.

A clinicopathological comparison of community-based and clinic-based cohorts of patients with dementia

OBJECTIVES

To compare the sensitivity and specificity of the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, the distribution of pathological causes, and the demographic and clinical characteristics of 2 different groups of patients with dementia.

DESIGN

Retrospective clinicopathological study.

SETTING

A memory disorder clinic in a university hospital and a multiethnic community.

PATIENTS

Sixty-three patients from a memory disorder clinic and 26 patients from a large community-based study who underwent autopsy after clinical evaluation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Differential distribution of clinical and pathological findings, with clinicopathological correlations.

RESULTS

Clinic patients were younger at diagnosis, more educated, and more likely to be white. Of the 63 clinic patients we evaluated, 29 (46%) had a pathological diagnosis of definite AD, 15 (24%) had a diagnosis of mixed AD, and 19 (30%) had a diagnosis of another type of dementia. The pathological diagnoses in the community patients were distributed as follows: 6 (23%) had definite AD, 6 (23%) had mixed AD, 6 (23%) had cerebrovascular disease, and 8 (31%) had another type of dementia. The difference in distribution of pathological diagnoses between these 2 groups was only significant for cerebrovascular diseases. For patients seen at the clinic, the sensitivity of the clinical diagnosis of AD was 98% and the specificity was 84%; for the community group, the sensitivity was 92% and the specificity was 79%.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis was not statistically significant between the groups of clinic patients and community patients. Dementia associated with cerebrovascular disease was more prevalent in the community sample. This difference may be attributable to clinical and demographic differences between the 2 groups.

The insulin-like growth factor binding protein superfamily: new perspectives

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding proteins (IGFBPs) were initially identified as carrier proteins for IGF-I and IGF-II in a variety of biologic fluids. Their presumed function was to protect IGF peptides from degradation and clearance, increase the half-life of the IGFs, and deliver them to appropriate tissue receptors. The concept of IGFBPs as simple carrier proteins has been complicated, however, by a number of observations: 1) the six IGFBPs vary in their tissue expression and their regulation by other hormones and growth factors; 2) the IGFBPs are subjected to proteolytic degradation, thereby altering their affinities for the IGFs; 3) IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5, in addition to binding IGFs, also can associate with an acid-labile subunit, thereby increasing further the half-life of the IGFs; 4) in addition to modifying the access of IGF peptides to IGF and insulin receptors, several of the IGFBPs may be capable of increasing IGF action; 5) some of the IGFBPs may be capable of IGF-independent regulation of cell growth; 6) some of the IGFBPs are associated with cell membranes or possibly with membrane receptors; and 7) some of the IGFBPs have nuclear recognition sites and may be found within the nucleus. Additionally, a number of cDNAs identified recently have been found to encode proteins that bind IGFs, but with substantially lower affinities than is the case with IGFBPs. The N-terminal regions of the predicted proteins are structurally homologous to the classic IGFBPs, with conservation of the cysteine-rich region. These observations suggest that these low-affinity binders are members of an IGFBP superfamily, capable of regulating cell growth by both IGF-dependent and IGF-independent mechanisms.insulin-like growth factor, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins.

Influence of APOE genotype on familial aggregation of AD in an urban population

OBJECTIVE

To examine the influence of the proband's APOE genotype on AD among first-degree relatives in a community-based study of African Americans, whites, and Caribbean Hispanics.

METHODS

History of AD and demographic information were obtained on 1,073 siblings and parents of 312 patients with AD and 2,722 siblings and parents of 802 nondemented controls. APOE genotyping was performed on all 1,114 patients and controls.

RESULTS

A higher proportion of patients with AD (35%) than controls (27%) had one or more APOE-epsilon4 alleles (p = 0.03). When compared with relatives of controls without an APOE-epsilon4 allele, the risk for AD was increased in first-degree relatives of both patients (rate ratio [RR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2 to 3.1) and controls (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2 to 2.6) with one or more APOE-epsilone alleles, regardless of ethnic group. There was a similar trend of increased risk in relatives of patients without an APOE-epsilon4 allele, but this was limited to Hispanics and African Americans.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of an APOE-epsilon4 allele increases risk for AD among first-degree relatives, regardless of the probands' disease status, among all ethnic groups. Relatives of patients without an APOE-epsilon4 allele were also at increased risk for AD among Hispanics and African Americans, suggesting that other genes or risk factors may influence risk.

Alois Alzheimer, neuroscientist (1864-1915)

Little is known about the person behind the eponymous dementia, Alois Alzheimer. We wished to study his life and contributions to the field of neuroscience. All cited articles about Alzheimer by his contemporaries and selected correspondence by him was translated from German. Additional personal information was obtained from his granddaughter. Alois Alzheimer made seminal contributions to the field of neuroscience, not only through his own research but also through the numerous scientists and physicians whom he taught. His contributions made a lasting impact not only in the area of Alzheimer disease but also other aspects of brain disease. In addition, he emerges as a complex person who coped successfully with numerous personal and career-related dilemmas that remain relevant in the academic environment today.

Truncated forms of the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II)/mannose 6-phosphate receptor encompassing the IGF-II binding site: characterization of a point mutation that abolishes IGF-II binding

Complete understanding of the functional significance of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) binding by the IGF-II/mannose-6-phosphate (Man-6-P) receptor requires mapping and ultimately mutational analysis of the receptor's IGF-II binding domain. Recent advances have localized the IGF-II binding site to extracytoplasmic repeats 10-11. To improve resolution of the binding site map, a nested set of epitope-tagged, truncated forms of the human IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. The IGF-II binding properties of truncated receptors immunoprecipitated from cell lysates and conditioned media were determined by affinity cross-linking. From the largest truncated receptor, encompassing extracytoplasmic repeats 8-11 (M(r) 68 K), through the smallest, comprised primarily of repeat 11 (M(r) 23 K), all were able to bind and cross-link to IGF-II. As a group, the truncated receptors had similar affinities for IGF-II, but with relative binding affinities 5-to 10-fold lower than those of full-length receptors. A point mutation substituting threonine for isoleucine at residue 1572, located in the NH2-terminal half of repeat 11, completely abolished IGF-II binding. We conclude that repeat 11 of the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor's extracytoplasmic domain contains the minimal elements required for binding and cross-linking to IGF-II, and that lle1572 and other residues within the NH2-terminal half of repeat 11 are particularly important for IGF-II interaction.