1,720,965 research outputs found
Dietary administration of Curcumin modifies transcriptional profile of genes involved in inflammatory cascade in horse leukocytes
Full text linkPro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) play a key role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Once released, these cytokines are potent stimulators for the de novo production of catabolic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2). Anti-inflammatory agents capable of suppressing the production and catabolic actions of these cytokines may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of OA and a range of other osteoarticular disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the therapeutic effect of Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a pharmacologically safe phytochemical agent, on males and foals affected by degenerative joint diseases. Curcumin, in the form phytosome (CURCUVET ®, Indena Spa, Milan, Italy) was administered to animals for fifteen days and gene expression was monitored before the treatment and after four, eight, and fifteen days. In mares, Curcumin inhibited the expression of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL1RN, and IL6, even if only the downregulation of IL-1β and IL1RN were significant. In foals, Curcumin significantly inhibited the expression of COX-2, TNF-α, IL1RN and significantly increased that of IL6. These results indicate that Curcumin has nutritional potential as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for treating osteoarticular disorders through suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and catabolic enzymes
Association of index of welfare and metabolism with the genetic merit of holstein and simmental cows after the peak of lactation
Full text linkThe study investigated the relationship of markers of welfare and metabolism in milk, urine and blood with the genetic merit of Holstein and Simmental cows after the peak of lactation. Cows were selected from 3 Simmental (IS) and 2 Holstein (IH) commercial dairy farms. Within each farm, cows were
ranked according to the estimated breeding value for milk protein yield (EBVp) from minus to positive and selected every 5 EBVps from minus to positive values (about 20% lactating cows for each farm). Milk was sampled and analysed for protein, fat, lactose, cortisol contents and somatic cell count (SCC). Blood and urines were analysed for biomarkers of metabolism and welfare. Significantly lower body condition score (BCS) was observed for IH in
comparison to IS. Plasma creatinine was higher in IS, whilst Zn, total antioxidant status and glutathione peroxidase was higher in IH. The creatinine N to N ratio in urine was significantly higher for IS, while the purine derivatives (PD) N to creatinine N ratio was higher for IH. The EBVp was negatively related to BCS and glucose for IS and to plasma b-hydroxybutyrate in both breeds. EBVp was negatively Related to urinary PD N to total N ratios for IS
and to PD N to creatinine N ratio for IH. These preliminary results would indicate that the selection of cows for milk protein yield had minor effect on plasma and milk biomarkers of welfare. Instead, biomarkers of metabolism were more affected by breed and genetic merit
Determination of volatile fractions in raw milk and ripened cheese by means of GC-MS. Results of a survey performed in the marginal area between Italy and Slovenia
No full textThe volatile fractions of milk and their evolution in ripened cheese were studied using purge and trap extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Eighteen samples of raw milk and cheese ripened for 70 days were collected in 2 consecutive years from dairy farms located in the border area between Italy and Slovenia. Twenty one volatile compounds not detected in the fresh milk used for cheese manufacturing, belonging mainly to the class of esters and alcohols, were found, while 8 compounds detected in milk were not found in cheese after 70 days of ripening. In cheese the majority of compounds increased significantly, even though the variations differed between the classes of volatile compounds. Concentration of alcohols, in particular ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-pentanol, increased considerably, while the content of ketones and terpenes was characterized by a significant, although small, rise that was largely related to a quantitative variation of only few compounds. Also esters, despite the high number of volatile compounds of new formation, showed a lower increase of concentration than that observed for the alcohols. Concentration of aldehydes, hydrocarbons and sulphur compounds remained unchanged, despite relevant variations involving the individual chemical compounds. Significant differences were also observed between the dairy product of the two countries, mainly for the concentration of volatile compounds belonging to the classes of alcohols, ketones and esters
Transcriptome modification of white blood cells after dietary administration of curcumin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in osteoarthritic affected dogs
No full textThe dietary effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or curcumin on the gene expression of peripheral white blood cells in osteoarthritis (OA) affected dogs was investigated using a 44K oligo microarray. Two groups of OA dogs and one group of healthy dogs (6 dogs each) were clinically evaluated and blood was sampled before (T0) and after 20. days (T20) of dietary administration of NSAID (NSAID group) or curcumin (CURCUMIN group). Differentially expressed genes (P< 0.05) in comparison to the control group were identified with MeV software and were functional annotated and monitored for signaling pathways and candidate biomarkers using the Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA). After 20. days of treatment, the differentially expressed transcripts significantly (P< 0.05) decreased from 475 to 173 in NSAID group and from 498 to 141 in CURCUMIN group. Genes involved in " inflammatory response" and in " connective tissue development and function" dramatically decreased at T20. Other genes, included in " cellular movement" , " cellular compromise" and " immune cell trafficking" , were differentially expressed at T0 but not at T20 in both groups. Specific molecular targets of CURCUMIN, not observed for NSAID, were the IkB up regulation in the " TNRF1 signaling pathway" and IL18 down regulation in the " role of cytokines in mediating communication between immune cells" The activity of CURCUMIN was also evidenced from the inhibition of macrophages proliferation (HBEGF), related to a strong down regulation of TNFα and to activation of fibrinolysis (SERPINE1). The results would suggest that curcumin offers a complementary antinflammatory support for OA treatment in dogs
Cortisol measurement in milk but not in hair is related to dairy cow health
No full textThe aim of the trial was to assess the relationship between cortisol
concentration (in milk - MC and hair - HC) and dairy cows
health. Cows were sampled in 6 Italian Simmental (IS) and 4
Italian Holstein (IH) commercial farms, were clinical healthy
and between 50 and 270 Days In Milk (DIM). Cows were housed
in free stalls with cubicles and milking parlour, had free access
to ad libitum total mixed ration (TMR) based on corn silage and
their management was similar across farms. Formulated was
offered twice a day, after the morning and the afternoon milking.
The day of official milk recording, 100 ml of milk samples werecollected from each cow at the morning milking and hair was
sampled from the tail switch for cortisol analysis. Blood was sampled
before the morning meal. Plasma samples were analyzed for
Zn, total protein (TP), albumin, ceruloplasmin (CuCp), haptoglobin
(Hp) and paraoxonase (PON): all indices related to the
inflammatory response. For statistical analysis, animals were
classified for parity with ordinal value of 1 for first calving, 2 for
second calving and 3 for cows with more than 2 calvings. A Kmean
cluster procedure was used to cluster the animals on the
base of haematic parameters in 3 classes representing different
animal health levels (C1 = better state; C2 = mild state; C3 =
worse state). The effect of animal health class on cortisol concentrations
was assessed with an univariate model including
also the fixed effects of breed, parity, the interaction of class per
breed and the linear relationship with DIM. Cows in C3 showed
higher (P<0.01) values of MC than cows in C2 and C1. No significant
effects were observed for the breed factor both in MC and
HC, whilst a significant effect of parity was evidenced for HC
concentrations, with higher values in cows with higher parity
number (P=0.000). HC was significantly higher in C1 cows, even
though a significant effect of the interaction breed x class was
also found. These data suggest that milk cortisol is related to the
acute phase response to stress and can be used as a biomarker
of short term activation of Hypotalamus Pituitary Adrenal axis
(HPA) and as an indicator of lactating cows health condition.Instead, HC is probably an indicator of long-term stimulation of
HPA in relation to the environment. These results offer a new
perspective for the definition of animal welfare by means of
endocrine biomarkers
Workplace safety management in dairy farms - from risk assessment to design of the workplace (Results of a study performed in Friuli Venezia Giulia region)
Full text linkThe study punctually analyzes the safety management in animal farms considering in particular infrastructural aspects, management of machines and equipment and handling of animals. The research, realized in Friuli Venezia Giulia region during years 2012-2014, allowed to record in detail, through a specific registration protocol, the existing critical issues. Results show a situation still lacking regarding safety: both prevention and protection are aspects poorly understood from farmers. In addition to chronic and structural deficiencies, such as obsolescence of machines, there are some operative weaknesses respect to animal management, animal handling (procedures often incorrect) and absence of escape routes. © 2015 Brigitta Gaspardo et al
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