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The aim of this study was to evaluate, during the first 4 wk of life, the involution of umbilical structures in clinically healthy calves and in calves affected by umbilical disorders, in both B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography. The present study was carried out on 63 Holstein Friesian calves, divided into 3 different groups: group H (clinically healthy, n = 17), group A, (affected by omphaloarteritis, n = 24), and group V (affected by omphalophlebitis, n = 22). B-mode ultrasonography was performed at weekly intervals, using a portable device (LOGIQ Book XP, GE Healthcare, Little Chalfont, UK) and a linear multifrequency 7 to 10 MHz probe. In addition to the ultrasound examinations, the umbilicus of the calves was also evaluated using a color Doppler. The extra-abdominal as well as the intra-abdominal hemodynamics within the umbilical structures were evaluated using 3 different ranges of speed-flow detections (23, 14, and 7 cm/s). In healthy calves, as the age increased, the umbilical structures decreased in size and their ultrasonographic identification became more difficult. Conversely, in affected calves the umbilical structures did not show the same progressive reduction of external diameters and areas, but had an irregular trend of regression. Also the color Doppler ultrasonography showed a significant difference in frequency and percentage of speed-flow in the early days of examination between the 3 groups, with the most reliable results detected from the umbilical arteries. In our experimental study, omphaloarteritis could be detected at the d 1 color Doppler exam, with a 100% specificity and a 100% positive predictive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The soil DNA pool consists of an intracellular (iDNA) and extracellular fraction (eDNA). Challenging to improve the extraction efficiency of soil DNA, and to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize both DNA fractions, we set up a molecular approach consisting of sequential and comparative DNA extraction and microbial community fingerprinting. eDNA was extracted by alkaline soil washings (ASW); iDNA by mechanical chemical cell lysis (MCCL) of the residual soil pellet after the extraction of eDNA (ASW–MCCL). The molecular approach was compared in terms of quantity (fluorometer) and quality (agarose gel electrophoresis; small subunit rRNA-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) to directly extracted soil DNA comprising both eDNA and iDNA (tDNA; FastDNA Spin Kit for Soil, BIO101). The proposed method appeared to be a potential tool to separately extract and analyze eDNA (6.07μgg−1 soil) and iDNA (11.46μgg−1 soil) and to obtain a greater amount of DNA from soil with broader genetic information about eubacterial and fungal communities with respect to directly extracted tDNA (8.79μgg−1 soil). Our results revealed the extracellular fraction to be quantitatively and qualitatively important of the soil metagenome. As the sequential DNA extraction method not only increased the total amount of extractable soil DNA (17.53μgg−1 soil) but also that of iDNA, it is suggested to be suitable for extracting the soil metagenome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction D-aspartate (D-Asp) is an atypical amino acid that binds to and activates NMDARs. D-Asp occurs abundantly in the embryonic brain of mammals and rapidly decreases after birth, due to the activity of the enzyme D-Aspartate Oxidase (DDO). The agonistic activity of D-Asp on NMDARs and its neurodevelopmental occurrence make this D-amino acid a potential mediator for NMDAR-related alterations observed in schizophrenia. Consistently, substantial reduction of D-Asp was observed in post-mortem schizophrenia brains. Aims We evaluated the potential contribution of D-Asp as neurodevelopmental modulator of brain circuits and behaviors relevant to schizophrenia. Objectives We analyzed DDO mRNA expression in the post-mortem prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients. Moreover, we treated knockout mice for Ddo gene ( Ddo -/- ) with the NMDAR antagonist phencyclidine to evaluate their schizophrenia-relevant behaviors and circuits. Finally, we assessed cortico-hippocampal connectivity of these mice. Methods DDO mRNA detection was performed by quantitative PCR. Phencyclidine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviours were assessed through motor activity and prepulse inhibition paradigms. Resting-state and pharmacological fMRI were used to evaluate functional circuits and connectivity. Results DDO mRNA expression is increased in frontal samples of schizophrenic patients. In mice, the absence of Ddo gene produces a significant reduction in phencyclidine-induced motor hyper-activity and prepulse inhibition deficit. Furthermore, increased levels of D-Asp in Ddo -/- animals significantly inhibit functional circuits activated by phencyclidine, and affect the development of cortico-hippocampal connectivity networks potentially involved in schizophrenia. Conclusions Our data suggest that D-Asp, through the regulation exerted by DDO, may have a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]