Bovine Calf Research Articles

Clinical Scoring Systems in the Newborn Calf: An Overview.

A scoring system is an instrument that enables the scorers, including farmers, technicians, and veterinarians, to adopt a systematic approach for diagnosis or monitoring, as it decreases bias and confounding and increases objectivity. Practically, it is a number assigned to a patient that correlates with a probability that a diagnosis can be confirmed or that a specific outcome will follow. This article examines the clinical scores designed or adapted to bovine medicine that aim to assess newborn calf viability and to diagnose and monitor neonatal calf diarrhea and respiratory diseases, helping the clinician promptly recognize calves needing medical assistance. Despite the large number of clinical scores described in the literature, these are still barely used in farm animal practice; possibly, the complexity of the scores and missing recommendations for intervention are reasons for their lack of popularity as well as the crosswise lack of consistency among scores designed for the same purpose. Further research is needed in this regard to increase scores validation and encourage their application in bovine calf neonatology.

Rheological Behavior of Different Calf Sera before, during and after Biomechanical Testing

Due to different rheological behavior of human synovial fluid and the test mediums for in vitro examinations, wear tests cannot replicate the in vivo situation completely. The standards for wear testing indicate calf serum as in vitro test medium. However, these standards do not contain precise information on the main constituent components and the rheological properties. In this study, bovine calf serum and newborn calf serum with a protein concentration of 20 g/L, both approved for wear testing defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), were characterized according to their rheological properties to detect differences before and during tribological simulation. The rheological behavior was determined at five defined intervals of a tribological test. The two test fluids differ in their rheological properties before and during the test and can therefore lead to deviating results in tribological testing. Furthermore, both test media changes considerably over test duration. At a test duration of 0.5 Mio cycles, both fluids have changed so that there is no longer any difference between them in terms of rheological properties. These changes could be attributed to denaturation and degradation of proteins. Thus, the choice of medium impacts tribological test results which should be considered for the interpretation of these studies.

New ternary Fe(III)-8-hydroxyquinoline–reduced Schiff base complexes as selective anticancer drug candidates

Due to the growing prevalence of cancer diseases, new therapeutic options are urgently needed, and drugs based on metal ions other than platinum are alternatives with exciting possibilities. We report the synthesis, characterization and biological effect of mixed-ligand Fe(III)-aminophenolate complexes derived from salicylaldehyde and L-tryptophan with quinoline derivatives as co-ligands, namely 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ), [Fe(L)(8HQ)(H2O)] (1) and its 5-cloro derivative (Cl8HQ), [Fe(L)(Cl8HQ)(H2O)] (2). The complex bearing the aminophenolate and lacking the quinoline co-ligand, [Fe(L)(Cl)(H2O)2] (3), was prepared for comparison. The analytical and spectroscopic characterization revealed that 1 and 2 are octahedral Fe(III) complexes with the aminophenolate acting as a dianionic tridentate ligand and 8HQ co-ligands as bidentate chelates. Spectroscopic techniques and molecular docking studies were used to evaluate the ability of these complexes to bind bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calf thymus DNA. Complex 2 [Fe(L)(Cl8HQ)(H2O)] was the one showing higher affinity for both biomolecules. Cell viability was assessed in breast, colorectal and bone human cancer cell lines. 1 and 2 were found to be more active than cisplatin in all cell lines tested. A non-tumoral fibroblast line (L929, mouse non-tumoral fibroblasts) was used to evaluate selectivity. The results evidence that 2 shows much higher selectivity than 1 in all cell lines tested, but particularly in bone cancer cells in which selectivity index (SI) values are 8.0 and 18.8 for 1 and 2, respectively.

Hip implant modular junction: The role of CoCrMo alloy microstructure on fretting-corrosion

Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) alloy is one of the most used metals in total hip replacement (THR) due to the alloy's superior corrosion qualities and biocompatibility. Over time these prostheses may undergo wear and corrosion processes in a synergistic process known as tribocorrosion. Implant retrieval studies have shown that damage patterns on THR modular junction surfaces indicating specifically in vivo fretting-corrosion to take place. To date, there have been no studies on the fretting-corrosion behaviors of CoCrMo alloy under the consideration of specific microstructural features. A custom-built flat-on-flat fretting-corrosion setup was utilized to test the synergistic tribocorrosion behavior of fretting-corrosion. The difference in microstructure was generated through the cutting orientations of the transverse and the longitudinal direction of the bar stock material, where the longitudinal cut exhibits a characteristic banded microstructure (banded group) and the transverse cut a homogenous microstructure (unbanded group). A three-electrode system was employed to monitor the induced currents. Two different types of electrolytes were used in the current study: 1. Bovine calf serum (BCS-30 g/L protein) (normal conditions) 2. BCS with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.15 μg/ml) (simulated infectious conditions). In the free potential mode, banded samples showed an increased potential compared to the unbanded samples. In potentiostatic conditions, the banded group also exhibited a higher induced current in both electrolyte environments, indicating more corrosion loss. Both Nyquist and Bode plots showed both orientations of metal becoming more corrosion resistant post-fretting when compared to pre-fretting data. The longitudinal group at OCP demonstrated a unique shape of the fretting-loop, which might be related to tribochemical reactions. Based on the mechanical, electrochemical, and surface characterization data, the transverse group (unbanded) microstructures demonstrates a higher resistance to fretting-corrosion damage.

FLUORESCENT CHARACTERISTICS OF HOECHST 33258 COMPLEXES WITH SERUM ALBUMIN AND DNA

We study the interaction of the bisbenzimodazole compound Hoechst 33258 with bovine serum albumin and calf thymus DNA by the fluorescence spectroscopy method. The fluorescence spectra of the complexes are obtained. Based on their maxima, the dependence curves of the fluorescence intensities of complexes of this ligand with protein and DNA on the ratio r = macromolecule/ligand are constructed. It is shown that the
 dependence curve in the case of albumin decreases at low protein concentrations and increases at its high concentrations. In the case of DNA, this curve increases significantly. This fact is due to the binding of the ligand to both DNA and albumin.

Manganese(II) complexes with 5–nitro–2–hydroxy–benzaldehyde or substituted 2–hydroxy–phenones: Structure and interaction with bovine serum albumin and calf–thymus DNA

A series of Mn(II) complexes of 5–nitro–salicyladehyde or substituted 2–hydroxy–phenones (HL) were synthesized in the absence or presence of a N,N′–donor co–ligand such as 2,2′–bipyridine, 1,10–phenanthroline, or 2,2′–bipyridylamine. The resultant coordination compounds were formulated as [Mn(L)2(CH3OH)2] (1–3) and [Mn(L)2(N,N′–donor)] (4–14), respectively, and characterized by diverse techniques. The crystal structures of three complexes were determined by single–crystal X–ray crystallography. Diverse techniques were employed to study the interaction of the complexes with calf–thymus DNA and showed intercalation as the most possible mode of their tight interaction. The affinity of the complexes for bovine serum albumin was investigated by fluorescence emission spectroscopy in order to calculate the binding constants which suggested a tight and reversible binding.

Effects of cinnamon extract on sirtuin activity: potential for metabolic regulation blood glucose control

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are a family of enzymes that are involved in several metabolic and inflammatory pathways in diseases. Sirtuins are histone‐deacetylase enzymes which remove an acetyl group from lysine residues in histone proteins. Acetylation of histones plays a role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Recent studies demonstrate that SIRT enzymes can regulate fasting glucose, concentration of circulating insulin, insulin resistance, pancreatic activity, and inflammation. Metabolic parameters, like glucose homeostasis and chronic inflammation, contribute to the development of diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Increasing expression of SIRT can aid in the regulation of these metabolic parameters and may be involved in diseases like T2DM. Our research aims to analyze the activity of HDACs and SIRT in 3T3L‐1 cells. 3T3L‐1 cells were grown in bovine calf serum and nuclear extracts were collected using a nuclear extraction kit. Nuclear extracts were then analyzed for protein concentration and added to the Epigenase™ Universal SIRT Activity/Inhibition Assay Kit. The data collected suggests that cinnamon does alter the activity of SIRT and further research will be explored to determine the extent to which this effect proves useful in the treatment of T2DM.

Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Manufactured Ti6Al4V Alloy in Saline and BCS Solution.

The frequency of surgeries involving the use of metal implants in orthopedic medicine to replace degenerative or fractured joints is increasing, and it is therefore important to optimize the lifespan and quality of these implants. Advances in additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, are creating new opportunities to personalize implants in ways that reduce mechanical stress at the joint implant interface and improve bone ingrowth and implant stability; however, it is not well understood if and to what degree the AM process alters the corrosion behavior of the materials it produces. In this study, six Ti6Al4V prints manufactured via a selective laser melting (SLM) method were examined regarding their corrosion behavior in both saline and bovine calf serum (BCS) solutions. Ecorr and Icorr values were comparable between the CM-Ti6Al4V control and SLM-EDM surfaces; however, SLM surfaces were found to have more narrow passivation behavior evidenced by significant decreases in Epass values relative to CM-Ti6Al4V. We believe this is a consequence of microstructural differences between CM-Ti6Al4V and SLM-Ti6Al4V. Specifically, the SLM-Ti6Al4V demonstrated a dominant α' martensitic microstructure and decreased vanadium-rich β-phase. BCS solution had a detrimental effect on potential parameters, Ecorr and OCP, decreasing these values relative to their saline counterparts. Increased surface roughness of the SLM-printed surface seemed to amplify the effects of the BCS solution. Furthermore, modest decreases in Epass and Ipass were observed in BCS solution, suggesting that the presence of protein may also interfere with passivation behavior. These findings have implications for how SLM-Ti6Al4V implants will perform in vivo and could possibly influence implant longevity and performance.

Genetic diversity, frequency and concurrent infections of picobirnaviruses in diarrhoeic calves in Turkey.

Calf diarrhoea is one of the major problems in cattle farming with high morbidity and mortality in herds. Two enteric viruses, bovine rotavirus (BRV) and bovine coronavirus (BCoV), are the leading cause of gastroenteritis in young calves, whereas picobirnaviruses (PBVs) are often associated with diarrhoea. In the present study, the faecal specimens of 127 diarrhoeic bovines (less than 1-month-old) were employed to investigate the infection frequencies of these three pathogens. Results indicated that frequencies of BRV and BCoV in diarrhoeic calves were 38.58% and 29.92%, respectively. The 7.08% of bovine calf samples (9 out of 127) were found to be positive for PBV genogroup I. Sequence analysis further revealed the high genetic heterogeneity within representative PBV sequences. Additionally, both PBV-BCoV (n = 2) and BCoV-BRV-PBV (n = 1) co-infections were detected in bovine calves for the first time. Consequently, our findings pointed out the highly divergent nature of PBVs without regard to exact host or territory and the occasional co-existence with other enteric agents.

Visible-Light-Prompted Synthesis and Binding Studies of 5,6-Dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles with BSA and DNA Using Biophysical and Computational Methods.

Fused heterocyclic systems containing a bridgehead nitrogen atom have emerged as imperative pharmacophores in the design and development of new drugs. Among these heterocyclic moieties, the imidazothiazole scaffold has long been used in medicinal chemistry for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we have established a simplistic and environmentally safe regioselective protocol for the synthesis of 5,6-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives from easily available reactants. The reaction proceeds through in situ formation of the α-bromodiketones ensuing trap with imidazolidine-2-thione to provide these versatile bicyclic heterocycles in excellent yields. The synthesized compounds were screened through the molecular docking approach for the most stable complex formation with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA). The selected compound was further studied using ex vivo binding studies, which revealed moderate interactions with BSA and ctDNA. The binding studies were performed using biophysical approaches including UV-visible spectroscopy, steady-state fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and viscosity parameters.

Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures

Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures

Lung ultrasound allows for earlier diagnosis of bronchiolitis than auscultation: an animal experiment and human case series.

Early diagnosis of bronchiolitis in infants allows for risk stratification for central apnea, and, when available, the timely initiation of antiviral treatment. An animal model could demonstrate if earlier diagnosis is possible with ultrasound than with clinical exam. Even if possible, translating this to pediatrics would require observations from undifferentiated human infants. We used serial daily clinical and lung ultrasound exams in a bovine calf model (Bos taurus) of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. Ultrasound and clinical examiners were blinded to each other's findings and the treatments used in 24 calves. Time to diagnosis was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves. A case series of human infants with upper respiratory tract infections, without clinical signs of bronchiolitis, and in whom lung ultrasound was performed, was extracted from hospital records. In the bovine model, lung ultrasound findings emerged earlier and lasted later than auscultatory findings. Relying on auscultation, 5/24 (21%) of animals were diagnosed by post-inoculation day 5 whereas 24/24 (100%) were diagnosed by ultrasound. We identified seven infants in whom lung ultrasound was used to diagnose bronchiolitis before adventitial lung sounds emerged. Three of these subsequently developed typical clinical findings of bronchiolitis in the hospital. Two had alternative explanations for their abnormal lung ultrasounds (both required surgical intervention). Two were discharged and required no further medical attention. Lung ultrasound allowed earlier diagnosis of bronchiolitis than clinical exam in the bovine model. In the human case series this was also true, but alternative causes of abnormal ultrasound were frequent.

Validating a bovine model for lung ultrasound of bronchiolitis.

PurposeBronchiolitis is a very common acute lung disease in infants caused commonly by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Point-of-care lung ultrasound is increasingly used in clinical care but proof that ultrasound reflects histological disease is lacking. Bovine calves are a good model for RSV bronchiolitis. We answered the following two questions: (1) does point-of-care lung ultrasound reflect lung pathology at the histological level in a bovine calf model of bronchiolitis? and (2) are point-of-care lung ultrasound images in human infants similar to those obtained in calves?MethodsWe experimentally infected 24 five to six-week-old bovine calves with RSV and compared six window lung ultrasound with lung histology10 days after inoculation. The calves were treated with antivirals and antipyretics leading to variable severity of illness. We used canonical discriminant analysis to determine if abnormal lung ultrasound findings reflected different histological findings. We compared the ultrasounds obtained from the calves with ultrasounds obtained from 10 human infants who were diagnosed clinically with bronchiolitis.ResultsCanonical discriminant analysis generally demonstrated good class separation based on the maximal severity of ultrasound finding in each acoustic window. Lung ultrasound performed poorly at detecting bronchopneumonia. Bovine ultrasounds looked similar to human infant lung ultrasounds.ConclusionPoint-of-care lung ultrasound abnormalities reflect lung pathology at the histological level in a bovine calf model of bronchiolitis. Point-of-care lung ultrasound images in human infants are similar to those obtained in calves.

Manganese(Ii) Complexes with 5–Nitro–2–Hydroxy–Benzaldehyde or Substituted 2–Hydroxy–Phenones: Structure and Interaction with Bovine Serum Albumin and Calf–Thymus DNA

Manganese(Ii) Complexes with 5–Nitro–2–Hydroxy–Benzaldehyde or Substituted 2–Hydroxy–Phenones: Structure and Interaction with Bovine Serum Albumin and Calf–Thymus DNA

Oxoperoxovanadium Complexes of Hetero Ligands: X-Ray Crystal Structure, Density Functional Theory, and Investigations on DNA/BSA Interactions, Cytotoxic, and Molecular Docking Studies.

Oxoperoxovanadium (V) complexes [VO (O)2 (nf) (bp)] (1) and [VO (O)2 (ox) (bp)] (2) based on 5-nitro-2-furoic acid (nf), oxine (ox) and 2, 2′ bipyridine (bp) bidentate ligands have been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, UV-visible, mass, and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The structure of complex 2 shows distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry, as confirmed by a single-crystal XRD diffraction study. The interactions of complexes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) are investigated using UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. It has been observed that CT-DNA interacts with complexes through groove binding mode and the binding constants for complexes 1 and 2 are 8.7 × 103 M−1 and 8.6 × 103 M−1, respectively, and BSA quenching constants for complexes 1 and 2 are 0.0628 × 106 M−1 and 0.0163 × 106 M−1, respectively. The ability of complexes to cleave DNA is investigated using the gel electrophoresis method with pBR322 plasmid DNA. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of the complexes is evaluated against the HeLa cell line using an MTT assay. The complexes are subjected to density functional theory calculations to gain insight into their molecular geometries and are in accordance with the results of docking studies. Furthermore, based on molecular docking studies, the intermolecular interactions responsible for the stronger binding affinities between metal complexes and DNA are discussed.

Constructing High-Recognition Protein-Imprinted Materials Using "Specially Designed" Block Macromolecular Chains as Functional Monomers and Crosslinkers.

The use of a macromolecularly functional monomer and crosslinker (MFM) to stabilize and imprint a template protein is a new method to construct high-recognition protein-imprinted materials. In this study, for the first time, a "specially designed" block MFM with both "functional capability" and "crosslinking capability" segments was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization and used to fabricate bovine serum albumin (BSA)-imprinted microspheres (SiO2@MPS@MIPs-MFM) by the surface imprinting strategy. Results from circular dichroic spectrum experiments reflected that the block MFM could maintain the natural form of BSA, whereas its corresponding and equivalent micromolecularly functional monomer (MIM) seriously destroyed the secondary structure of proteins. Batch rebinding experiments showed that the maximum adsorption capacity and imprinting factor of SiO2@MPS@MIPs-MFM reached 314.9 mg g-1 and 4.02, which were significantly superior to that of MIM-based imprinted materials. In addition, since the crosslinking capability segments in block MFM involved zwitterionic functional groups with a protein-repelling effect, SiO2@MPS@MIPs-MFM showed better specific rebinding ability than the imprinted material prepared by MFM without this component. Besides, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images showed that the shell thickness of SiO2@MPS@MIPs-MFM was approximately 15 nm, and such a thin imprinted layer ensured its rapid adsorption equilibrium (120 min). As a result, SiO2@MPS@MIPs-MFM revealed fantastic selectivity and recognition ability in a mixed protein solution and could efficiently extract BSA from biological samples of bovine calf serum. The proposal of block MFM enriched the options and designability of monomers in protein imprinting technology, thereby laying a foundation for developing high-performance protein-imprinted materials.

A novel synthesis method of carbide-derived carbon (CDC) in open air for hip implants

The inferior tribocorrosion behavior of commonly used biomedical alloys has led to the early failure of total hip replacements (THRs) and serious complications. Our previous results have shown that carbide-derived carbon (CDC) produced by direct chlorination can provide excellent protection to Ti6Al4V and has a high durability.In this study, a novel method has been developed to synthesize CDC on Ti6Al4V substrates by electrolysis from LiCl-KCl with a low melting point. Compared to previous preparation processes, this newly developed approach eliminates the exposure to chlorine gas and the requirement of the inert gas environment, which makes the synthesis process more controllable and the CDC layer more uniform. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were utilized to characterize the products. Based on the characterization results, the produced CDC has a porous structure which may contain nanocrystalline graphite (NCG) and amorphous carbon (a-C). The theoretical thickness of the sample is estimated by a calculation which is approximately 1.44 μm. In addition, the performance of the new layer was tested in a tribocorrosion hip simulator. A system has a pin on ball contact and immersed in bovine calf serum of 30 g/L protein concentration, with a pH of 7.6 and a temperature of 37 °C. We applied a normal force of 16 N and ran the test for 3600 cycles with 1 Hz. According to the recordings of normal and tangential forces, the evolution of friction coefficient is deducted and reported in the results.The findings have shown that the CDC samples prepared by electrolysis method exhibit smaller friction coefficient (approximately 0.12) and potential drop (less than 0.1 V compared to 1.1 V for substrate). Therefore, it is promising that CDC prepared by the novel electrolysis approach can protect Ti6Al4V substrates from the tribocorrosive damages.

Temperature-sensitive tribological performance of titanium alloy lubricated with PNIPAM microgels

In the pressent work, nanosized poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels were prepared and used as lubricant additives in bovine calf serum (BCS) for titanium alloy/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene contact. The effects of sliding speed, load, and temperature on the lubrication behavior were studied on a pin-on-disc tribometer. The tribological results showed that the PNIPAM microgels can significantly improve the lubricity of BCS solution. The PNIPAM microgels exhibited notable temperature-sensitive lubrication characteristics. When the temperature was close to the low critical solution temperature of the PNIPAM microgels, the contact had the lowest friction coefficient due to the formation of a good lubricating layer with collapsed microgels and proteins. This discovery contributes to establishing a new strategy for friction-reduction and antiwear of titanium alloy artificial joint materials.

Case Report: Complex Congenital Brain Anomaly in a BBxHF Calf–Clinical Signs, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Pathological Findings

This case report describes the clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and associated (histo)pathological findings in a crossbred Belgian Blue calf with congenital complex brain anomaly. The calf was presented with non-progressive signs (including cerebellar ataxia) since it was born, suggestive of a multifocal intracranial lesion. A congenital anomaly was suspected and after hematology, biochemistry, serology, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, a magnetic resonance imaging study was performed. The following suspected abnormalities were the principal changes identified: severe hydrocephalus, porencephaly, suspected partial corpus callosum agenesis (CCA), and increased fluid signal between the folia of the cerebellum. Post-mortem examination predominately reflected the MRI findings. The origin for these malformations could not be identified and there was no evidence of a causative infectious agent. Corpus callosum abnormalities have been reported in bovids before and have been linked to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections, as have several other central nervous system anomalies in this species. In this case, BVDV was deemed an unlikely causative agent based on serology test results and lack of typical histopathological signs. The etiology of the congenital anomaly present in this bovine calf remains unknown.

Near-Complete Genome Sequence of Ndumu Virus from Garissa, Kenya, 1997.

ABSTRACTWe report a nearly complete genome sequence of Ndumu virus (NDUV) identified using a metagenomics approach. The sequence was derived from a viral isolate obtained from a bovine calf following a diagnostic investigation of the 1997 to 1998 Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak in the Garissa District of northeastern Kenya.