Fully Automated Measurement of the Insall-Salvati Ratio with Artificial Intelligence

Patella alta (PA) and patella baja (PB) affect 1-2% of the world population, but are often underreported, leading to potential complications like osteoarthritis. The Insall-Salvati ratio (ISR) is commonly used to diagnose patellar height abnormalities. Artificial intelligence (AI) keypoint models show promising accuracy in measuring and detecting these abnormalities.An AI keypoint model is developed and validated to study the Insall-Salvati ratio on a random population sample of lateral knee radiographs. A keypoint model was trained and internally validated with 689 lateral knee radiographs from five sites in a multi-hospital urban healthcare system after IRB approval. A total of 116 lateral knee radiographs from a sixth site were used for external validation. Distance error (mm), Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate model performance. On a random sample of 2647 different lateral knee radiographs, mean and standard deviation were used to calculate the normal distribution of ISR. A keypoint detection model had mean distance error of 2.57 ± 2.44 mm on internal validation data and 2.73 ± 2.86 mm on external validation data. Pearson correlation between labeled and predicted Insall-Salvati ratios was 0.82 [95% CI 0.76-0.86] on internal validation and 0.75 [0.66-0.82] on external validation. For the population sample of 2647 patients, there was mean ISR of 1.11 ± 0.21. Patellar height abnormalities were underreported in radiology reports from the population sample. AI keypoint models consistently measure ISR on knee radiographs. Future models can enable radiologists to study musculoskeletal measurements on larger population samples and enhance our understanding of normal and abnormal ranges.

Araceae root and citrus fibers tend to decrease Escherichia coli adhesion and myeloperoxidase levels in weaned piglets

Introduction

Weaning is a stressful experience in the piglet's life, and it often coincides with impaired gut health. Post-weaning diarrhea in piglets is frequently caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (E. coli). The first step of an E. coli infection is the adhesion to host-specific receptors present on enterocytes, leading to pro-inflammatory immune responses. The aim of this study was to examine if specific fiber fractions in the piglet diet can prevent E. coli adhesion and subsequent immune responses.

Methods

The trial included 200 piglets (Danbred × Piétrain): 10 piglets/pen × 10 pens/dietary treatment × 2 dietary treatments. From weaning until 14 days (d14) post-weaning, piglets were fed a control diet or test diet with 2 kg/ton of a mixture of specific fiber fractions derived from Araceae root and citrus. Afterwards, 1 piglet per pen was euthanized, a section was taken at 75% of small intestinal length and E. coli colonization on the mucosal epithelium was quantified by scraping and conventional plating. From the same small intestinal section, histo-morphological indices were assessed, and mucosal scrapings were analyzed for gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and NF-kB. Analyses of specific intestinal bacteria and SCFA were performed on samples of intestinal content (small intestine, caecum, colon). Fecal samples were taken to measure myeloperoxidase (MPO), calprotectin and PAP/RAG3A as biomarkers for intestinal inflammation.

Results and discussion

Piglets fed the fiber mixture tended to have decreased E. coli colonization to the mucosal epithelium (5.65 vs. 4.84 log10 CFU/g; P = 0.07), less E. coli in the caecum (8.91 vs. 7.72 log10 CFU/g; P = 0.03) and more Lachnospiraceae in the colon (11.3 vs. 11.6 log10 CFU/g; P = 0.03). Additionally, the fiber mixture tended to increase cecal butyric acid (10.4 vs. 19.1 mmol/kg; P = 0.07). No significant effect on histo-morphological indices and on gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and NF-kB was observed. The fecal MPO concentration tended to decrease (20.2 vs. 10.4 ng/g; P = 0.07), indicating less intestinal inflammation. In conclusion, this study showed that specific fiber fractions from Araceae root and citrus in piglet weaner diets may decrease the risk of pathogen overgrowth by reducing E. coli adhesion and intestinal inflammation.

Impact of Citrus Pulp or Inulin on Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites, Barrier, and Immune Function of Weaned Piglets

We investigated the use of citrus pulp (CP) as a novel prebiotic capable of exerting microbiota and immunomodulating capacities to alleviate weaning stress. Inulin (IN), a well-known prebiotic, was used for comparison. Hundred and 28 male weaned piglets of 21 days old were assigned to 32 pens of 4 piglets each. Piglets were assigned to one of the four treatments, i.e., control, IN supplemented at 0.2% (IN0.2%), and CP supplemented either at 0.2% (CP0.2%) or at 2% (CP2%). On d10–11 and d31–32 post-weaning, one pig per pen was euthanized for intestinal sampling to evaluate the growth performance, chyme characteristics, small intestinal morphology, colonic inflammatory response and barrier integrity, metabolite profiles [gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)], and microbial populations. The IN treatment and the two CP treatments induced higher small intestinal villus height to crypt depth ratios in comparison with the control diet at both sampling times. All treatments decreased acidic goblet cell absolute counts in the crypts in comparison to the control diet of the duodenum on d10–11 and d31–32. The gene expression of β-defensin 2 was downregulated in colonic tissues following the IN and CP2% inclusion on d31–32. On d31–32, piglets fed with IN and CP0.2% showed lower mRNA levels of occludin and claudin-3, respectively. Not surprisingly, flavonoids were observed in the colon in the CP treatments. Increased colonic acetate proportions on d10–11, at the expense of branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) levels, were observed following the CP2% supplementation compared to the control diet, inferring a reduction of proteolytic fermentation in the hindgut. The beneficial microbial community Faecalibacterium spp. was promoted in the colon of piglets fed with CP2% on d10–11 (p = 0.04; false discovery rate (FDR) non-significant) and on d31–32 (p = 0.03; FDR non-significant) in comparison with the control diet. Additionally, on d31–32, CP2% increased the relative abundance of Megasphaera spp. compared to control values (p = 0.03; FDR non-significant). In conclusion, CP2% promoted the growth of beneficial bacterial communities in both post-weaning time points, modulating colonic fermentation patterns in the colon. The effects of CP supplementation were similar to those of IN and showed the potential as a beneficial feed supplement to alleviate weaning stress.

In vitro prebiotic potential of agricultural by-products on intestinal fermentation, gut barrier and inflammatory status of piglets

The inclusion of fibre-rich ingredients in diets is one possible strategy to enhance intestinal fermentation and positively impact gut ecology, barrier and immunity. Nowadays, inulin-type fructans are used as prebiotics in the feed of piglets to manipulate gut ecology for health purposes. Likewise, some by-products could be considered as sustainable and inexpensive ingredients to reduce gut disorders at weaning. In the present study, chicory root and pulp, citrus pulp, rye bran and soya hulls were tested in a three-step in vitro model of the piglet's gastro-intestinal tract combining a pepsin-pancreatin hydrolysis (digestion), a dialysis step using cellulose membranes (absorption) and a colonic batch fermentation (fermentation). The fermentation kinetics, SCFA and microbiota profiles in the fermentation broth were assessed as indicators of prebiotic activity and compared with the ones of inulin. The immunomodulatory effects of fermentation supernatant (FS) were investigated in cultured intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) by high-throughput quantitative PCR. Chicory root displayed a rapid and extensive fermentation and induced the second highest butyrate ratio after inulin. Citrus pulp demonstrated high acetate ratios and induced elevated Clostridium clusters IV and XIVa levels. Chicory root and pulp FS promoted the intestinal barrier integrity with up-regulated tight and adherens junction gene expressions in comparison with inulin FS. Chicory pulp FS exerted anti-inflammatory effects in cultured IPEC-J2. The novel approach combining an in vitro fermentation model with IPEC-J2 cells highlighted that both chicory root and pulp appear to be promising ingredients and should be considered to promote intestinal health at weaning.

Inhibitors of PEX14 disrupt protein import into glycosomes and kill Trypanosoma parasites

The parasitic protists of the Trypanosoma genus infect humans and domestic mammals, causing severe mortality and huge economic losses. The most threatening trypanosomiasis is Chagas disease, affecting up to 12 million people in the Americas. We report a way to selectively kill Trypanosoma by blocking glycosomal/peroxisomal import that depends on the PEX14-PEX5 protein-protein interaction. We developed small molecules that efficiently disrupt the PEX14-PEX5 interaction. This results in mislocalization of glycosomal enzymes, causing metabolic catastrophe, and it kills the parasite. High-resolution x-ray structures and nuclear magnetic resonance data enabled the efficient design of inhibitors with trypanocidal activities comparable to approved medications. These results identify PEX14 as an "Achilles' heel" of the Trypanosoma suitable for the development of new therapies against trypanosomiases and provide the structural basis for their development.

The effect of different concentrations of linseed oil or fish oil in the maternal diet on the fatty acid composition and oxidative status of sows and piglets

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for foetal development. Hence, including n-3 PUFA in the sow diet can be beneficial for reproduction. Both the amount and form (precursor fatty acids vs. long chain PUFA) of supplementation are important in this respect. Furthermore, including n-3 PUFA in the diet can have negative effects, such as decreased arachidonic acid (ARA) concentration and increased oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the efficacy to increase eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in the piglet, when different concentrations of linseed oil (LO, source of precursor α-linolenic acid) or fish oil (FO, source of EPA and DHA) were included in the maternal diet. Sows were fed a palm oil diet or a diet including 0.5% or 2% LO or FO from day 45 of gestation until weaning. Linoleic acid (LA) was kept constant in the diets to prevent a decrease in ARA, and all diets were supplemented with α-tocopherol acetate (150 mg/kg) and organic selenium (0.4 mg/kg) to prevent oxidative stress. Feeding 0.5% LO or 0.5% FO to the sows resulted in comparable EPA concentrations in the 5-day old piglet liver, but both diets resulted in lower EPA concentrations than when 2% LO was fed. The highest EPA concentration was obtained when 2% FO was fed. The DHA level in the piglet liver could only be increased when FO, but not LO, was fed to the sows. The 2% FO diet had no advantage over the 0.5% FO diet to increase DHA in the piglet. Despite the constant LA concentration in the sow diet, a decrease in ARA could not be avoided when LO or FO were included in the diet. Feeding 2% FO to the sows increased the malondialdehyde concentration (marker for lipid peroxidation) in sow plasma, but not in piglets.

New techniques for the assessment of canine semen quality: A review

Until recently, canine semen assessment was routinely performed by conventional light microscopic techniques. The limitations of these methods include subjectivity, variability, the small number of spermatozoa analyzed, and poor correlation with fertilizing potential. The last decade, several new in vitro techniques have been introduced for canine semen assessment that enable a more detailed evaluation of several sperm characteristics. Numerous fluorescent staining techniques have been developed for the evaluation of specific sperm characteristics and functions, including plasma membrane integrity, capacitation status and the acrosome reaction. By combining fluorescent stains, several functional sperm characteristics can be assessed simultaneously. Moreover, by means of flow cytometry, large numbers of fluorescently labelled spermatozoa can be analysed in a short interval. Following thorough standardization and validation, computer-assisted sperm analysis systems provide objective and detailed information on various motility characteristics and morphometric dimensions that cannot be identified by conventional light microscopic semen analysis. In vitro assays, evaluating the capacity of canine spermatozoa to bind to the zona pellucida or oviductal explants, or to penetrate the oocyte, provide additional information on canine gamete interaction that may be useful in predicting the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa. Although substantial improvements have been made in canine semen assessment, surprisingly few parameters were correlated with in vivo fertility. Therefore, further research is required to determine which sperm characteristics are of clinical value for predicting the in vivo fertility in dogs.

Inhibition of bovine sperm–zona binding by bovine herpesvirus-1

The purpose of the present study was to identify a potential interference of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) with sperm–oocyte interactions during bovinein vitrofertilization. An inhibition of almost 70% of sperm–zona binding was observed when bovine cumulus-denuded oocytes were inseminated in the presence of 10750% tissue culture infective dose/ml BoHV-1. The inhibitory effect of BoHV-1 on sperm–zona binding was mediated by an interaction of the virus with spermatozoa, but not with oocytes. Treatment of spermatozoa with BoHV-1, however, did not affect sperm motility and acrosomal status. Antiserum against BoHV-1 prevented the virus-induced inhibition of sperm–zona binding, indicating that BoHV-1 itself affects the fertilization process. In order to investigate which BoHV-1 glycoprotein(s) are responsible for the virus–sperm interaction, BoHV-1 was treated with monoclonal antibodies against the viral glycoproteins gB, gC, gD and gH prior to insemination. Anti-gC completely prevented the inhibitory effect of BoHV-1 on sperm–zona binding, while anti-gD caused a reduction of this inhibition. Further evidence for the involvement of gC and gD in the virus–sperm interaction was provided by the fact that purified gC and gD decreased sperm–zona binding in a dose-dependent way with gC being more effective than gD. These results indicated that BoHV-1 inhibits bovine sperm–zona binding by interacting with spermatozoa. The binding of BoHV-1 to a spermatozoon is mediated by the viral glycoproteins gC and gD, and therefore seems to be comparable with the mechanisms of BoHV-1 attachment to its natural host cell.

Inhibition of bovine sperm-oocyte fusion by the p-aminophenyl derivative of D-mannose

Several steps in the process of mammalian fertilization are mediated by carbohydrates. This study investigated the role of the p-aminophenyl derivative of d-mannose (APMP) during bovine fertilization. Inseminating cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) in the presence of increasing APMP concentrations resulted in a significant dose-dependent decrease of the fertilization rate (P < 0.05). No negative effect of 50 mM APMP on total sperm motility and progressive motility was found. Subsequently, the fertilization steps at which this blocking effect could be exerted were investigated, i.e., sperm penetration of the cumulus oophorus, sperm-zona binding, acrosome reaction, sperm-oolemma binding, and/or sperm-oocyte fusion. Inseminating cumulus-enclosed and cumulus-denuded oocytes in the presence of 50 mM APMP significantly decreased the fertilization rate to a comparable minimum level (P < 0.05). There was no significant relationship between the number of spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida and the APMP concentration, and APMP nor d-mannosylated bovine serum albumin (BSA) suppressed or stimulated sperm acrosomal status. Inseminating zona-free oocytes in the presence of 50 mM APMP did not influence sperm-oolemma binding, but significantly inhibited sperm-oocyte fusion (P < 0.05). Preincubating zona-free oocytes with 200 microg/ml Con A but not with 50 mM APMP inhibited the sperm-oocyte fusion rate to the same extent as when the gametes were simultaneously exposed to 50 mM APMP. These data indicate that the blocking effect of APMP on bovine fertilization is mainly due to an inhibition of sperm-oocyte fusion, probably by specific obstruction of the sperm receptor sites that are responsible for the fusion process.

Carbohydrates and glycoproteins involved in bovine fertilization in vitro

In the present study, efforts were made towards identifying carbohydrates and glycoproteins involved in bovine in vitro fertilization (IVF). In vitro matured cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were inseminated in the presence of a variety of carbohydrates and glycoproteins to determine which glycoconjugates act as competitive inhibitors of oocyte penetration. Among the carbohydrates and glycoproteins tested, D-mannose, fucoidan, dextran sulfate, and fibronectin were the most potent inhibitors of oocyte penetration (90% or more inhibition), while L-fucose and vitronectin inhibited the penetration rate to a lesser extent (around 50% inhibition). Other carbohydrates caused less than 40% inhibition (i.e., D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-fucose, and sialic acid) or were not effective as inhibitors of oocyte penetration (i.e., mannan, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, dextran, and heparan sulfate). Heparin was the only carbohydrate that significantly increased the penetration rate. To exclude a possible toxic effect on spermatozoa, sperm motility was evaluated over time by means of computer-assisted sperm analysis in the presence of carbohydrates and/or glycoproteins that inhibited the penetration rate with 40% or more. L-fucose, dextran sulfate, and vitronectin did not significantly influence total and progressive sperm motility, whereas D-mannose, fucoidan, and fibronectin caused a significant, but slight reduction in both motility parameters. These results are indicative for the involvement of D-mannose, L-fucose, fucoidan, dextran sulfate, fibronectin, and vitronectin in bovine IVF.

Cumulus contributions during bovine fertilization in vitro

A mandatory step in performing micromanipulation techniques, studying sperm-oocyte interactions and evaluating morphological aspects of oocyte quality is the removal of cumulus cells from oocytes or zygotes at various stages. In cattle, cumulus removal shortly before fertilization in vitro strongly decreases sperm penetration rates. This study was conducted to evaluate the function of the cumulus oophorus during bovine fertilization in vitro. The importance of cumulus secretions during IVF was investigated by inseminating cumulus-denuded oocytes (CDOs) in fertilization medium supplemented with individual cumulus secretions, such as progesterone or hyaluronic acid. None of these substances increased the fertilization rate of CDOs. However, fertilizing CDOs in cumulus-conditioned medium or on a cumulus monolayer partially restored the reduction in fertilization rate (P<0.05). The fertilization rate of CDOs inseminated on a cumulus monolayer further increased when physical contact between the gametes and the monolayer was prevented by fertilizing them inside a culture plate insert placed on the monolayer (P<0.05). Finally, the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and O(2) concentration during IVF was studied. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence revealed a higher ROS load in conditioned medium of cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs) than in that of CDOs after sperm-oocyte co-incubation (P<0.05). Furthermore, lowering the external O(2) concentration from 20 to 5% decreased the fertilization rate of both CEOs and CDOs, but had a higher impact on CEOs (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study provides evidence that the cumulus oophorus benefits the fertilizing ability of penetrating spermatozoa by creating a complex microenvironment of both cumulus secretions and metabolic products around the oocyte. Gap junctional communication between the oocyte and corona cells as well as sperm trapping by the cumulus oophorus seem to be essential factors in supporting fertilization.

Function of the cumulus oophorus before and during mammalian fertilization

CONTENTS

Fertilization encompasses a series of different steps which have to be performed in a well-orchestrated way to create a new individual. They include sperm capacitation, sperm binding and penetration of the zona pellucida, traversing the perivitelline space, binding and fusion with the oolemma, activation of the oocyte and decondensation of the sperm head to form the male pronucleus. In most mammalian species, cumulus cells surround the oocyte at the time of fertilization. Removal of the cumulus oophorus at this point of time often leads to a drop in fertilization rates. It is not yet known how cumulus cells interact with the oocyte or with spermatozoa to promote fertilization. There are different possibilities: 1 cumulus cells cause mechanical entrapment of spermatozoa and guide hyperactivated spermatozoa towards the oocyte, while preventing abnormal spermatozoa to enter the cumulus matrix; 2 cumulus cells create a micro-environment for the spermatozoa which favours their capacitation and penetration into the oocyte; 3 cumulus cells prevent changes in the oocyte which are unfavourable for normal fertilization; these changes can be located in the zona pellucida or in the cytoplasm. In this review, studies in several species are listed to prove the importance of these three cumulus cell functions and the current lines of research are highlighted. Moreover, different ways to improve in vitro fertilization of bovine cumulus-denuded oocytes are discussed.

Assessment of different sperm quality parameters to predict in vitro fertility of bulls

Frozen-thawed semen from six bulls with high (> 60%) and low (20-35%) in vitro fertility was used for studying the predictive value of simple sperm quality tests with respect to in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome as assessed by pronucleus (PN) formation ability. Sperm quality parameters, such as sperm concentration, motility, progressive motility, live-dead sperm ratio, morphology, membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity and acrosomal status were analysed using both conventional and automatic techniques at three time points during the IVF process, namely after sperm thawing, Percoll differential gradient centrifugation and IVF. Associations between the sperm quality parameters before and after IVF, and PN formation ability were assessed by using linear regression analyses. The percentages of motility, progressive motility and normal morphology determined after sperm thawing, and the percentage of live spermatozoa assessed after Percoll preparation by using nigrosin-eosin (N-E) staining showed a good correlation with PN formation ability, but the regression parameters were borderline not significant. These parameters formed the most reliable basis for predicting IVF outcome. After IVF, the percentage of live spermatozoa determined by using N-E staining was the only sperm quality parameter showing a significant association with the PN formation ability of a given bull. This sperm quality test can be used as a non-invasive method to estimate the PN formation ability of oocytes which are further cultured to assess embryonic development.