Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the 4th leading cause of mortality in Taiwan. Chronic persistent inflammation as demonstrated by higher proinflammatory mediators in blood has been correlated to cardiovascular complications of type 2 DM. The cellular and molecular mechanism of chronic inflammation in type 2 DM remains to be determined. This study was conducted to explore altered innate immunity in toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and signaling of monocytes from type 2 DM patients. Blood leukocytes from type 2 DM patients were counted and studied for TLR2 and TLR4 expression and signaling. Each experiment was run with 1 to 2 type 2 DM patients, simultaneously with 1 to 2 age-matched normal adults as controls. 31 type 2 DM patients and 37 normal age-matched controls completed the study. Results showed that blood monocytes from type 2 DM patients had a significantly higher TLR4 but not TLR2 expression. Using a TLR4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to trigger TNF£\ production, a significantly higher TNF£\ production by blood leukocytes from type 2 DM patients than age-matched controls was found. The higher TNF£\ production by blood leukocytes from type 2 DM patients was associated with down-regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1and 3 (SOCS-1 and SOCS-3) expression. We have further postulated that increase of oxidative stress or decrease of IFN-£\ production in type 2 DM patients was related to the alteration of TLR-4 response. Correction of SOCS-1 expression by addition of antioxidant, superoxide dismutase (SOD), but not IFN-£\, significantly decreased TNF£\ production in blood leukocytes from type 2 DM patients. This study is the first in the literature to identify an alteration of TLR4 expression associated with depressed SOCS-1 expression in leukocytes of type 2 DM patients. Results from this study highlight a potential pathway to improve chronic inflammation of type 2 DM patients via modulation of TLR4 expression and SOCS-1 mRNA expression of leukocytes.

The Oct-4 transcription factor is believed to co-regulate early embryonic development of mammals due to the correlation of its presence with the maintenance of pluripotency. It is commonly used as a marker for the identification of embryonic stem (ES) cells for this reason. Until 1999, Oct-4 studies were limited to in vivo-produced embryos; equine embryos have not been studied for their Oct-4 expression patterns. In addition, equine stem-like cells (defined by marker expression, induced differentiation, passage survival, and morphology) have recently been isolated from in vivo-produced embryos, but no work has been performed in horses to isolate ES cells from in vitroproduced embryos. This study investigated the expression of Oct-4 transcription factor using immunocytochemistry in 42 in vitro-produced embryos aged 1-10 days and in 5 in vivoproduced blastocysts aged 7-10 days. Effective conditions for rapid establishment of a feeder layer of equine fetal fibroblasts were established, and this feeder layer was used to grow isolated equine inner cell mass (ICM) cells from in vitro-produced embryos. The expression of Oct-4 was examined in resultant cell growths. In vitro-produced embryos less than 6 days of age showed variable staining within blastomeres of the same embryo, and the peak of variability correlated with maternal-zygotic transition. After Oct-4 staining of in vitro-produced blastocysts, no cells could be identified as an ICM based on a difference in fluorescent intensity from the other cells of the blasyocysts. However, in vitro-produced blastocysts that were subsequently cultured in vivo contained a presumptive ICM, visible based on greater fluorescent intensity of Oct-4 stain. The trophoblast of all blastocysts also stained positively for Oct-4 protein. Fibroblasts were successfully isolated from equine feti. Treatment with 20 µg/ml of Mitomycin C arrested cell growth without causing excessive death. Fibroblasts were inactivated and frozen, then thawed as needed to establish a confluent monolayer for ICM isolation overnight. ICMs from in vitro-produced embryos formed outgrowths, but none that could be identified morphologically as ES cells. Outgrowth cells contained about 20% Oct-4 expressing cells in sporadic groupings. Assuming appropriate binding of the Oct-4 antibody, Oct-4 expressing cells (potentially indicating pluripotency) are found throughout the embryo in early development and in the feeder layer after co-culture.

The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of Master Livestock Volunteer program participants regarding the effectiveness of the program, their role in the county 4-H volunteer program, and the role of various stakeholders in livestock project decision making. A census was attempted of the 242 possible participants. Using recommendations from Dillman (2000), master volunteers were contacted by email if available and via mailed questionnaire. This process yielded a 38% response rate. Follow-up methods increased the response rate to 52.4%. The volunteers indicated the programs was of high importance and effective. Findings included that volunteers perceived their most influence came in the selection of feeds. The educator role was the one most involved in the decision making process of the livestock projects, followed by the manager role, leader role, and various servant-type leadership roles. Volunteers ranked stakeholders' influence on livestock project decisions, with the youth and the parents as most influential followed by the CEA, the volunteer, and the breeder. The average participant reported nine years of overall volunteer service and two years of service as a Master Livestock Volunteer. Participants in this study were between 38 and 47 years of age.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Committee on Immunology, June 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

The marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea, A. Rich.; Hoscht subspecies caffra, Sond) is a member of the Anacardiaceae which encompasses 73 genera and 600 species (Pretorius et al., 1985). This tree is distributed throughout Africa with its southern most location in the lowlands of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) from where it extends northwards through tropical Africa into Ethiopia and Sudan (VanWyk, 1974). Of all fruit trees indigenous to South Africa, the marula has received most attention in terms of domestication and commercialization (Shackleton, 1996). Several products such as beer, juice, jam and jelly have been developed from the mesocarp and successfully marketed, the most recent being a marula liqueur (Burger et al., 1987). Despite the traditional and commercial uses, the flavour constituents remain poorly studied, especially for the pericarp. Ripe marula fruit can be consumed by biting or cutting through the thick leathery skin and sucking the juice or chewing the mucilaginous flesh after removal of the skin. The ripe fruit has an average vitamin C content of 168 mg/100 g which is approximately three times that of oranges and comparable to the amounts present in guavas (Wilson, 1980). Bark and leaf infusions are often used to treat boils, malaria and diarrhoea (Shone, 1979). The seed oil is used as cosmetic and to preserve meat (Shone, 1979). Despite the several commercial uses of marula, the volatile constituents of the fruits are poorly studied. As part of the investigation on South African fruit flavours, we reported here the volatile constituents of the marula fruit pulp and the intact whole fruit volatiles.

Εισαγωγή: Η κίρρωση ήπατος αποτελεί μία σοβαρή και γενικά μη αναστρέψιμη κατάσταση, η οποία συχνά επιπλέκεται από λοιμώξεις, με προεξάρχουσα την αυτόματη βακτηριακή περιτονίτιδα. Η εκδήλωση βακτηριακής λοίμωξης στους κιρρωτικούς συνοδεύεται από υψηλή θνητότητα, ενώ η ύπαρξη της κιρρωτικής νόσου θεωρείται κακός προγνωστικός παράγοντας σε σοβαρές λοιμώξεις. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν η διερεύνηση της επίδρασης της κίρρωσης στην επίπτωση λοιμώξεων και την Τ κυτταρική απάντηση ασθενών με κίρρωση ήπατος. Ασθενείς και Μέθοδο: Η μελέτη περιέλαβε 74 ασθενείς με κίρρωση ήπατος, οποιασδήποτε αιτιολογίας, που εισήχθησαν στην παθολογική κλινική του Περιφερικού Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Πατρών από Μάιο 2006 έως Ιούνιο 2007. Τριάνταεννέα (39) από τους ασθενείς (52,7%, ομάδα 1) εισήχθησαν για διάφορους λόγους εκτός από λοίμωξη, 21 ασθενείς (28,4%, ομάδα 2) παρουσίασαν σύνδρομο σήψης και 14 (18,9%, ομάδα 3) επεισόδιο κιρσορραγίας. Στο περιφερικό αίμα όλων των ασθενών προσδιορίστηκαν οι Τ λεμφοκυτταρικοί πληθυσμοί, δηλαδή CD3, CD56, CD4, CD8, CD5 και CD20 καθώς και οι CD14 και CD64 υποπληθυσμοί ουδετερόφιλων και μονοκυττάρων, με την τεχνική της κυτταρομετρίας ροής. Στους ασθενείς της ομάδας 1, ο προσδιορισμός των κυτταρικών πληθυσμών έγινε μόνο κατά την πρώτη ημέρα νοσηλείας, ενώ στους ασθενείς της ομάδας 2 και 3, μετρήσεις λήφθηκαν και κατά την τρίτη ημέρα νοσηλείας καθώς και την ημέρα εξόδου. Αποτελέσματα: Παρατηρήθηκε τάση ελάττωσης των κυτταρικών πληθυσμών σε σηπτικούς κιρρωτικούς ασθενείς, χωρίς όμως στατιστική σημασία. Αντίθετα, σημειώθηκε στατιστικά σημαντική μείωση των Τ λεμφοκυτταρικών πληθυσμών σε ασθενείς με κιρσορραγία [CD3: 693 ±85 vs 357 ± 71 (p<0.05), CD4: 425 ± 46 vs 236 ± 48 (p<0.05), CD8: 233 ± 27 vs 128 ± 32 (p<0.05), CD56: 188 ± 28 vs 120 ± 39, σε ασθενείς με κίρρωση vs κιρσορραγία αντίστοιχα]. . Συμπερασματικά, φαίνεται ότι η ανοσιακή απάντηση σε σηπτικούς ασθενείς με κίρρωση δεν επηρεάζεται σημαντικά, αντιθέτως επηρεάζεται σημαντικά σε ασθενείς με κιρσορραγία. Φαίνεται ότι οι ασθενείς με αιμορραγία κιρσών παρουσιάζουν καταστολή της Τ-κυτταρικής ανοσιακής απάντησης και πρέπει να αντιμετωπίζονται με την κατάλληλη αντιμικροβιακή αγωγή. / Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is a serious and generally non reversible condition, often complicated by infections, most commonly spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Bacterial infections in cirrhotics are accompanied by a high mortality rate, while the presence of cirrhosis alone is considered to be a bad prognostic marker in serious infections. The aim of the present study was the investigation of the effect of liver cirrhosis on the onset of infections and the association with T-cell immune response in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Patients and methods: The study included 74 patients with liver cirrhosis, who were admitted to the hospital from May 2006 until June 2007. Thirtynine patients (52,7%, group 1) were admitted for reasons other than infection, 21 (28,4%, group 2) presented septic syndrome and 14 (18,9%, group 3) with variceal bleeding. Determination of T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD56, CD20) as well as CD14 and CD64 subsets of monocytes and neutophils took place, using flow cytometry. Measurements for group 1 were taken only on the first day of admission, while for patients of group 2 and 3 measurements were repeated on the third and exit day. Results: Decrease of cell subsets was observed in septic cirrhotics with no statistical significance. On the contrary, significant decrease was observed in T-cel subsets in cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding [CD3: 693 ±85 vs 357 ± 71 (p<0.05), CD4: 425 ± 46 vs 236 ± 48 (p<0.05), CD8: 233 ± 27 vs 128 ± 32 (p<0.05), CD56: 188 ± 28 vs 120 ± 39, cirrhotics vs patients with variceal bleeding respectively]. Conclusions: It seems that the immune systen in septic patients with liver cirrhosis is not affected during infections, while it appears to be compromised in patients with variceal bleeding. The demonstrated depression of T-cell immune response in cirrhotics presented with variceal bleeding reflects immunosupression of the immune system, and these patients should be confronted with the appropriate antibiotic regime.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.