Effects of supplemental glutamine on growth performance, plasma parameters and LPS-induced immune response of weaned barrows after castration

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental glutamine on growth performance, plasma parameters and LPS-induced immune response of weaned barrows after castration. In experiment 1, forty-eight weaned male piglets were used and fed maize and soybean meal diets supplemented with 0 (Control) or 2% L-Gln (Gln+) for 25 days. The results indicated that the Gln+ group tended to increase average daily gain compared to control in stages of days 7 to 14 and 0 to 25. The Gln+ had significantly better feed efficiency than the control group did during days 14 to 25 and 0 to 25. The plasma blood urea nitrogen and alkaline phosphatase contents of Gln+ group were higher than those of the control group on day 14 post-weaning. In experiment 2, sixteen weaned male piglets were injected with E. coli K88+ lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on day 14 post-weaning. The results showed that the Gln+ group had lower concentrations of plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol than the control group on day 14 pre-LPS challenge. In addition, Gln+ group had higher plasma IgG concentration than the control group for pre- or post-LPS challenged on day 14 post-weaning. In summary, dietary supplementation of Gln was able to alleviate the stressful condition and inflammation associated with castration in weaned barrows, and to improve their immunity and growth performance in the early starter stage.

Oral administration recombinant porcine epidermal growth factor enhances the jejunal digestive enzyme genes expression and activity of early-weaned piglets

This study attempted to determine ingested porcine epidermal growth factor (pEGF) on the gastrointestinal tract development of early-weaned piglets. Thirty-two piglets (14-day weaned) were randomly allotted to supplemented with 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg pEGF/kg diet. Each treatment consisted of four replicates with two pigs per pen for a 14 days experimental period. Piglets were sacrificed and gastrointestinal tract samples were collected to measure mucosa morphology, mRNA expression and activities of digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets at the end of the experiment. Diets supplemented with pEGF failed to influence growth performance but tended to increase jejunal mucosa weight (p < 0.09) and protein content (p < 0.07). Piglets supplemental pEGF induced incrementally the gastric pepsin activity (p < 0.05) and stimulated jejunal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactase activities accompanied with the increase of jejunal ALP and maltase mRNA expression. No effect of pEGF on the activities of all enzymes in ileum except the stimulation of ileal aminopeptide N mRNA expression. These results reveal that dietary pEGF supplementation might enhance gene expression and activities of digestive enzymes in the stomach and jejunum of piglets.

Expression of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in oxLDL-treated human aortic smooth muscle cells and in the neointima of cholesterol-fed endothelia-denuded rabbits

The migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from the media to the intima and the proliferation of intimal VSMCs are key events in restenotic lesion development. These events, which are preceded and accompanied by inflammation, are modulated by the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), which induces vascular smooth muscle cells to express adhesion molecules and to proliferate. IL-1 beta action is complex and regulated, in part, by its naturally occurring inhibitor, the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). Whether there was a temporal and spatial correlation between IL-1 beta and IL-1ra expression in, and release by, oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL)-stimulated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) was determined by using ELISA and Western blot. In addition, IL-1 beta and IL-1ra expression was detected in the neointima of endothelia-denuded cholesterol-fed New Zealand white rabbits by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. In HASMCs, oxLDL induced IL-beta and IL-1ra expression and release in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with 20 microg/ml oxLDL resulted in increased IL-1 beta release after 6 h, which peaked at 24 h, and in increased IL-1ra release, first seen after 12 h, but continuing to increase for at least 48 h. In the cells, IL-beta expression showed a similar pattern to release, whereas IL-1ra expression was seen in unstimulated cells and was not increased by oxLDL treatment. Confocal microscopy showed colocalization of IL-beta and IL-1ra expression in oxLDL-stimulated HASMCs. oxLDL caused significant induction of nuclear factor kappa B and activator protein-1 DNA binding activity in HASMCs (6.6- and 3.3-fold, respectively). In cholesterol-fed endothelia-denuded rabbits, the notably thickened intima showed significant IL-1 beta and IL-1ra expression. These results provide further support for the role of IL-1 system in the pathogenesis of restenosis. This is the first demonstration of IL-1 beta and IL-1ra expression and secretion of oxLDL-treated HASMCs and their expression in the rabbit neointima, suggesting that the smooth muscle cells of the intima are an important source of these factors.

Chromium-induced glucose uptake, superoxide anion production, and phagocytosis in cultured pulmonary alveolar macrophages of weanling pigs

The dose-dependent effects of chromium chloride (CrCl3) and chromium picolinate (CrPic) were evaluated for their glucose uptake, superoxide anion (O2-) production, activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and phagocytosis of incubated pulmonary alveolar macrophages in medium containing no or 5 x 10(-8)M insulin. Glucose uptake was found to increase in cells treated with 20 microg/L CrCl3. Incubation with 20 microg/L of CrPic enhanced glucose uptake and O2- production in an insulin-dependent manner. However, the inclusion of CrPic to 100 microg/L in the medium absent of insulin also increased O2- production. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was not affected by either the addition of Cr or insulin. The phagocytosis of Escherichia coli by macrophages was enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) in medium containing 10-100 microg/L CrCl3 or 20-100 microg/L CrPic in the presence of insulin. These results suggest that the addition of 10-20 microg/L CrCl3 enhances directly the cellular activity of macrophages, whereas the effect of CrPic requires the cooperative action of insulin in enhancing their glucose uptake and phagocytosis.

The inhibitory effect of UVB irradiation on the expression of p53 and Ki-67 proteins in arsenic-induced Bowen's disease

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet B (UVB) on arsenic-induced Bowen's disease. Four patients were irradiated with 750 mJ/cm2 of UVB and biopsies were performed before treatment and 2 weeks later. Immunohistochemical stains of p53 and Ki-67 were compared by the labelled-streptavidin method before and after the UVB treatment. We found that the number of p53 and Ki-67 positive cells after the UVB treatment were significantly fewer than those of non-UVB-treated specimens. These results suggest that the UVB inhibitory effect in Bowen's disease needs further studies to clarify its value in potentially retarding the progression of the hyperproliferative status in overt skin cancer on a molecular basis.

The expression of cytokines by an established basal cell carcinoma cell line (BCC-1/KMC) compared with cultured normal keratinocytes

A basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cell line (BCC-1/KMC) has recently been successfully established from a patient. The production of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 was assessed in comparison with that of cultured normal keratinocytes. The mRNA expression of these cytokines was measured by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and the protein production by an ELISA. The cultured BCC cells spontaneously secreted more IL-6 and IL-8 but less IL-1 than the keratinocytes after culture for 24 h at 37 degrees C. It is suggested that the increased expression of IL-6 and IL-8 may indicate the transformation of normal keratinocytes to locally aggressive BCC.

Survival of paraquat intoxication complicated with mediastinal emphysema: a case report

Paraquat intoxication is a common medical problem in this country. The mortality is high, particularly in the cases of high dose ingestion. Mediastinal emphysema observed in paraquat intoxication always means mortality, however, we experienced a survivor. A 29 y/o female ingested about 10-15 c.c. of 24% (2.4-3.6 gm) paraquat to attempt suicide. Nausea and protracted vomiting occurred shortly after. During hospitalization, mediastinal emphysema developed on the 7th day and subsided 10 days later. Serum paraquat level determination revealed 185 ng/ml in 20 hours after ingestion and 34 ng/ml on the 6th day. She received general supportive treatments with the augmentation of sodium thiosulfate. Hypokalemia had been observed for 11 days and was intractable until hypomagnesemia was identified and corrected. So far, she had returned back to her work for more than 1 year, although the chest x-ray revealed slight pulmonary fibrosis. The high ingested dose, oral ulcers, high serum level and mediastinal emphysema of this patient all implicate a poor prognosis of paraquat intoxication; however, these contradict the observed survival of our patient. In conclusion, mediastinal emphysema observed in paraquat intoxication is not related to the serum level of paraquat. It does not absolutely lead to death and may simply come from the esophageal rupture after vigorous vomiting in paraquat intoxication.

Dilaceration of a central incisor with iatrogenic root perforation--a case report

Dilacerated tooth is caused by disruption of the follicle of the developing tooth secondary to traumatic injury of its deciduous predecessor. This case presented a dilacerated permanent maxillary incisor which was perforated in root canal at buccal side by general practitioner and treated successfully by conservative endodontic therapy.