Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Risk Factors Of Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasite Infections In Small Ruminants Kept In Smallholder Mixed Farms In Kenya, Agricola Odoi, Joseph M. Gathuma, Charles K. Gachuiri, Amos Omore

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Background

Helminth infections in small ruminants are serious problems in the developing world, particularly where nutrition and sanitation are poor. This study investigated the burden and risk factors of gastrointestinal nematode parasite infections in sheep and goats kept in smallholder mixed farms in the Kenyan Central Highlands. Three hundred and seven small ruminants were sampled from 66 smallholder mixed farms in agro-ecological zones 1 (humid) and 3 (semi-humid) in the Kenyan Central highlands. The farms were visited once a month for eight months during which a health and production survey questionnaire was administered. Fecal samples were collected at each visit …

Protein Expression Of G-Protein Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels (Girk) In Breast Cancer Cells, Madhu S. Dhar, Howard K. Plummer

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Background

Previous data from our laboratory has indicated that a functional link exists between the G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel and the beta-adrenergic receptor pathway in breast cancer cell lines, and these pathways were involved in growth regulation of these cells. Alcohol is an established risk factor for breast cancer and has been found to open GIRK. In order to further investigate GIRK channels in breast cancer and possible alteration by ethanol, we identified GIRK channel protein expression in breast cancer cells.

Results

Cell pellets were collected and membrane protein was isolated to determine GIRK protein expression. GIRK protein …

Expression Of G-Protein Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels (Girks) In Lung Cancer Cell Lines, Howard K. Plummer, Madhu S. Dhar, Maria Cekanova, Hildegard M. Schuller

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Background

Previous data from our laboratory has indicated that there is a functional link between the β-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and the G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK1) in human breast cancer cell lines. We wanted to determine if GIRK channels were expressed in lung cancers and if a similar link exists in lung cancer.

Methods

GIRK1-4 expression and levels were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. GIRK protein levels were determined by western blots and cell proliferation was determined by a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay.

Results

GIRK1 mRNA was expressed in three of six small …

Retinol Improves Bovine Embryonic Development In Vitro, Tracy Livingston, Dawn Eberhardt, J. Lannett Edwards, James Godkin

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Abstract

Retinoids are recognized as important regulators of vertebrate development, cell differentiation, and tissue function. Previous studies, performed both in vivo and in vitro, indicate that retinoids influence several reproductive events, including follicular development, oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. The present study evaluated in vitro effects of retinol addition to media containing maturing bovine oocytes and developing embryos in both a low oxygen atmosphere (7%) and under atmospheric oxygen conditions (20%). In the first experiment, abbatoir collected bovine oocytes were matured in the presence or absence of varying concentrations of retinol. After a 22–24 hour maturation period the oocytes …

Short Communication: Relationship Between Body Growth And Mammary Development In Dairy Heifers, L F. Silva, M J. Vandehaar, Brian K. Whitlock, R P. Radcliff, H A. Tucker

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Our objective was to determine if prepubertal rate of body weight (BW) gain, independent of diet, was related to mammary development of dairy heifers. Data from two studies recently conducted at Michigan State University were used to identify factors, within a dietary treatment group, that would account for variation in first lactation milk production or amount of mammary parenchymal DNA at the time of puberty. Factors analyzed for variation in milk production during first lactation were: postpartum BW, prepubertal BW gain, gestational BW gain, postpartum BW gain, body condition score (BCS) at breeding, and BCS at calving. Factors analyzed for …

Effect Of Dietary Protein On Prepubertal Mammary Development In Rapidly Growing Dairy Heifers, Brian K. Whitlock, M J. Vandehaar, L F. Silva, H A. Tucker

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

The objective was to determine whether increased dietary protein would enhance mammary development in prepubertal heifers fed for rapid body growth (1.2 kg/d). Fifty-four Holstein heifers (weighing approximately 134 kg) were assigned to one of three treatments. Heifers were fed a total mixed ration with metabolizable energy at 2.85 Mcal/kg and metabolizable protein at low, standard, or high concentrations (37, 41, or 44 g/Mcal of metabolizable energy, respectively) from 3.5 mo of age until slaughter at approximately 46 d after puberty. Heifers fed low, standard, and high protein gained 1130, 1170, and 1180 g/d, respectively. Dietary protein did not affect …