219 research outputs found
Investigation of α-Klotho Concentrations in Serum of Cats Affected by Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
No full textBeing involved in various physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms (ageing, kidney damage, cardiovascular diseases, etc.), Klotho is a parameter of increasing interest. Studies in veterinary medicine are still rare, but it is exciting to find out whether the findings obtained can be transferred to animals. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate Klotho in cats. This study addressed α-Klotho concentrations in the serum of two groups of cats: one diseased group affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 27) and one healthy control group (n = 35). α-Klotho concentrations in serum were measured using an ELISA. The results were evaluated in the context of several echocardiographic measurement parameters in the diseased group. No significant difference between α-Klotho concentrations in the two groups was found. A slight negative correlation was found between α-Klotho concentrations and the relation of left atrium/aorta (La/Ao) in the diseased group. Gaining initial information on α-Klotho in cats, it was not possible to draw definite conclusions concerning cardiomyopathies in this species. The assessment of Klotho should be considered in terms of its broad implications in disease processes, but it is also recommended to focus on specific disease features. Both approaches might be promising as possible applications of Klotho in veterinary medicine
Wind-borne dispersion of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs – a flight model
No full textAbstract The alveolar hydatid disease, also known as alveolar echinococcosis, of humans is certainly one of the most dangerous zoonoses worldwide. The disease is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis – the fox tapeworm. Red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) are currently counted as the most important carriers (reservoirs) of E. multilocularis in the Northern Hemisphere. The possible routes of infection of E. multilocularis to humans are complex and still require research. Until now, it has been unknown whether E. multilocularis eggs can be moved by wind at all. This analysis shows, based on calculations, that E. multilocularis eggs can be transported by wind. Using a mathematical model, flight distances depending on wind speed and take-off heights are calculated for dense and less dense (coniferous) forest areas. The results – differentiated for seasons and as overall average – are based on mean values of wind speeds which were measured over a ten-year period in an experimental forest stand in the Solling (Germany). Due to their rate of descent, wind-related spreading of E. multilocularis eggs is possible. The average flight distance covered by E. multilocularis eggs in forest areas, depending on their starting altitude and wind speed, is between approximately 1.3 m and approximately 17 m. From the mathematical point of view, the wind factor can definitely be seen as one of the multiple vectors associated with environmental contamination by E. multilocularis eggs. Consequently, the possible wind-borne spread of E. multilocularis eggs poses an infection risk to humans that should be considered and requires further research
Procalcitonin as an Endogenous Biomarker for Mastitis in Cows
No full textMastitis is one of the most common diseases of dairy cows. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been described as an endogenous inflammatory biomarker for bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to find possible correlations between PCT concentrations in the serum and milk of cows with mastitis and their clinical signs and disease progression. In total, 88 dairy cows were examined, of which 30 animals were diagnosed with clinical mastitis, 30 had subclinical mastitis, and 28 were designated as a healthy control group. The diseased animals were re-examined after 12 days. All PCT levels in this study were determined by a species-specific ELISA. All three groups could be differentiated from each other based on serum and milk PCT levels. The animals with clinical mastitis showed the highest mean concentrations of PCT (serum: 2641 pg/mL; milk: 1326 pg/mL), and the lowest PCT concentrations were found in the healthy control group (serum: 1166 pg/mL; milk: 176 pg/m). Over the course of the disease, results from the kinetics study showed that PCT levels remained high for the entire observation period. The results from this study showed that the PCT concentration could be used to differentiate between clinical mastitis, subclinical mastitis, and healthy cows
[GDS-GESPERRT-NOCH] Physikalische Weltrekorde - Überschweres Platin und Gold aus der Darmstädter Elementenschmiede [Broschüre]
No full textOnTEAM metadata: GDSID: DOC-2010-Jul-99; Attribute ID: LIBRARY-note-2010-098; Title: Physikalische Weltrekorde - Überschweres Platin und Gold aus der Darmstädter Elementenschmiede [Broschüre]; Author(s): Siegert, Günter; Corporate author(s): AGF; Publication date: 19950101; Creator: S.Sulzer; Creation date: 16.07.2010 11:21:06; Change date: 16.07.2010 11:21:06; Access: Welt; Attribute type: Text.Note; Directory path: ['GSI Publications', 'GSI as Publisher', 'Brochure']; Attribute path: ['Infrastructure', 'Library and Documentation', 'note', 'Added in 2010']; File name(s): ['DOC-2010-Jul-99-1.pdf']; File title(s): ['Broschüre']; File access: ['Welt'
The cypriot blunt-nosed viper Macrovipera lebetinus lebetinus: complete mitochondrial genome revealed by next-generation sequencing
No full textMacrovipera lebetinus lebetinus is the sole venomous snake species endemic to Cyprus, with its population declining due to habitat loss and persecution. The taxonomic status of this species remains uncertain, and there is a significant gap in available genetic information. Here, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome of M. lebetinus lebetinus, obtained from two specimens. The mitogenomes (17,151 bp and 17,152 bp) include the standard 37 genes—13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs—as well as two control regions. Comparative analysis reveals a conserved gene order typical for Viperidae but also an unprecedented structural modification: the complete loss of the D-arm in tRNA-Cys, a feature previously unreported in snakes. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the monophyly of M. lebetinus lebetinus and M. lebetinus schweizeri. These findings contribute essential genetic data for this under-documented species, providing valuable molecular markers for future phylogenetic and conservation studies
Observation of the Bloch-Siegert Shift in a Qubit-Oscillator System in the Ultrastrong Coupling Regime
No full textWe measure the dispersive energy-level shift of an LC resonator magnetically coupled to a superconducting qubit, which clearly shows that our system operates in the ultrastrong coupling regime. The large mutual kinetic inductance provides a coupling energy of ?0.82??GHz, requiring the addition of counter-rotating-wave terms in the description of the Jaynes-Cummings model. We find a 50 MHz Bloch-Siegert shift when the qubit is in its symmetry point, fully consistent with our analytical model.QN/Quantum NanoscienceApplied Science
Bloch–Siegert shift in application to the astrophysical determination of the fundamental constants variation
No full textAbstractWe have evaluated the Bloch–Siegert shift for the different values of magnetic fieldʼs strengths defined at astrophysical conditions, i.e. when the stars with the strong surface magnetic fields are taken as a powerful pumping source of radiation. It is found that the additional shift of resonant frequency should be taken into account in the search for the time variation of the fundamental constants. The main conclusion is that the influence of the electromagnetic field should be considered carefully in each special case of the corresponding frequency determination
β-defensin-4 as an endogenous biomarker in cows with mastitis
No full textIntroduction
Defensins are peptides with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. Their concentration could be altered during infections and thus provide information on the prognosis and course of the disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the defensin concentration in cows with mastitis in order to find correlations between clinical expression and course of the disease and the defensin concentration in milk and blood.
Methods
A total of 85 dairy cows were examined. Of these, 30 animals suffered from acute clinical mastitis, 25 animals were diagnosed with subclinical mastitis and 30 animals were considered a healthy comparison group. Beta-Defensin-4 (DEFB-4) was determined by a species-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Bovine Defensin Beta 4 ELISA Kit, MyBioSource).
Results
The highest concentrations of DEFB-4 were detected in the animals with acute clinical mastitis. Values of 0 to 895 pg/mL (median: 115 pg/mL) were measured in milk and 40–1,016 pg/mL (median: 245 pg/mL) in serum. The concentrations of this group differed significantly from those of the animals with subclinical mastitis (p < 0.0001 serum; p = 0.015 milk). In this group, concentrations of 15–211 pg/mL (median: 46 pg/mL) were recorded in milk and 20-271 pg/mL (median: 85 pg/mL) in serum.
Discussion
Our results also show that in cases of acute mastitis after 12 days of treatment there is still an active inflammatory process in the tissue, because no significant reduction of somatic cells and defensin could be found after re-examination. Since the DEFB-4 concentrations of animals with clinical mastitis that had to be treated with antibiotics differed significantly from those of animals with subclinical mastitis that did not require antibiotic treatment, it can be assumed that bovine DEFB-4 is an important endogenous parameter for the defense against bacterial infections of the udder
Accessing the impact of harvest weights of Tenebrio molitor on amino acid digestibility and metabolizable energy in cecectomized laying hens
No full textAbstract BACKGROUND The effects of harvest weights on composition, amino acid (AA) digestibility and metabolizable energy (ME N ) of Tenebrio molitor (TM) were investigated using cecectomized laying hens. The partially defatted and dried TM variants comprised median individual frass‐free harvest weights of 60, 80, 100, and 120 mg of larvae, and a pupae weight of 125 mg. Diets containing the five TM variants and a basal diet were fed to six cecectomized laying hens over six experimental periods in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. RESULTS The AA concentrations relative to crude protein were similar among the TM larvae variants. Crude protein and crude fat contents did not differ between the larvae variants. Pupae had a lower crude protein and a higher crude fat concentration compared to the larvae variants. The AA concentrations in the fat‐free dry matter of TM were low for all harvest weights. Larvae variants did not differ in AA digestibility, whereas pupae showed the highest values. Compared with pupae, larvae had a lower digestibility ( P ≤ 0.050) for all AA except Arg and Thr in L60; Arg, Asx, Glx, Lys, and Thr in L100, and all AA except Arg, Asx, Glx, Leu, Phe, Pro, and Thr in L120. The ME N did not differ among larvae variants but was higher for the pupae ( P ≤ 0.050). CONCLUSION The present study did not indicate that partially defatted TM larvae of different harvest weights influenced AA digestibility and ME N , whereas AA digestibility and ME N of pupae was higher. Feeding partially defatted TM pupae instead of larvae could reduce nitrogenous emissions during egg production, provided that emissions from pupae production remain low. Therefore, optimizing the defatting process for TM pupae may help mitigate challenges associated with the higher fat content, potentially enabling the realization of the benefits from its higher AA digestibility in feed applications. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry
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