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Four experiments with 1-wk-old veal calves were conducted to assess the influence of probiotics on growth and health indicators. In experiments 1 and 2, the liquid probiotic supplements were administered daily from experimental d 1 to 15. The treatment period in experiments 3 and 4 was extended to 56 d. The probiotics used were a multispecies probiotic (MSPB) containing different probiotic species of human origin, or a calf-specific probiotic (CSPB) containing 6 Lactobacillus species isolated from calf feces and selected on the basis of a combination of characteristics. When the data for the 4 experiments were pooled, the probiotics enhanced growth rate during the first 2 wk. During the 8-wk experimental period, average daily gain and feed efficiency were significantly improved in the probiotic-treated groups. The MSPB-induced increase in weight gain was greater when the control calves were considered less healthy based on a health score (an index of diarrhea and therapeutic treatments). Probiotic treatment tended to diminish mortality. The CSPB treatment reduced the incidence of diarrhea and the fecal counts of coliforms. When therapeutic treatment was intensive in the control calves, the ingestion of probiotics reduced the percentage of calves that required therapy and the amount of treatments needed against digestive or respiratory diseases. There was no clear difference in the efficiency of the MSPB and CSPB preparations. Further research is necessary to identify underlying mechanisms and to evaluate the potential of probiotics to improve respiratory health in veal calf production.

Chronic (inflammatory) back pain is a key symptom of axial spondylarthritis (axSpA) and still present in a large proportion of patients on long-term biological treatment. This pain may not only be of inflammatory origin, but also due to altered pain processing of the central nervous system such as central sensitization (CS). Biological, psychological and social factors contribute to the development and maintenance of CS. A high score on the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), is associated with disease activity in axSpA.[1] In absence of a gold standard, Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) is currently understood as an optimal indirect assessment of altered somatosensory function. However, QST is not always feasible in clinical practice, and CSI could serve as an alternative. To explore: 1) to what extent altered somatosensory function related to CS is present in patients with axSpA; 2) associations with QST and psychosocial factors related to CS. Consecutive outpatients from the Groningen Leeuwarden axSpA cohort, fulfilling the ASAS classification criteria, were included. Participants underwent QST according to a standardized protocol, including assessment of Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) at 11 sites, Temporal Summation (TS) at 3 sites and Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM). Widespread low PPTs, high TS (both pain facilitation) and positive CPM (impaired pain inhibition) are indicators of CS. Participants also filled out the CSI, illness perception (IPQ-R), pain catastrophizing (PCS), fatigue (MFIS), anxiety and depression (HADS), coping (CORS) and physical activity (mSQUASH). Analyses were stratified for CSI cut-off value ≥40 indicating probable CS. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate the association of CSI, the questionnaires, QST, and patient and disease related assessments. 201 patients were included, median age was 50 years [IQR 38-58], 63% were male, 64% were classified as radiographic axSpA, 79% were HLA-B27+, median symptom duration was 12 years [IQR 5-24], mean ASDASCRP was 2.1 ± 1.0. In total, 40% patients scored ≥40 on the CSI. In these patients PPTs at all sites except the m. trapezius left were significantly lower and TS significantly higher at the non-painful and painful area compared to patients with CSI scores < 40 (Table 1). No significant differences in TS at the non-dominant forearm and CPM were found. In univariable linear regression, sex, ASDAS, BASFI, PPT scores, PCS, IPQ-R identity, IPQ-R emotional representations, IPQ-R consequences, MFIS, HADS anxiety, CORS pain decreasing activities and mSQUASH were all significantly associated with the CSI. In the multivariable regression model, 5 variables (MFIS, IPQ-R Identity, sex, HADS anxiety, and PCS) were independently associated with the CSI. Explained variance of this model was 78%. Excluding the CSI questions with potential overlap with symptoms related to axSpA resulted in a comparable model. This large study including QST confirms that altered somatosensory function related to CS is present in a subgroup of patients with axSpA. In addition, the CSI strongly reflect psychosocial factors related to CS. These results addresses the importance of the multifactorial biopsychosocial perspective of pain within the management of axSpA. [1]Kieskamp SC et al. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021 NIL. Yvonne van der Kraan: None declared, Davy Paap: None declared, Hans Timmerman: None declared, Freke Wink: None declared, Suzanne Arends: None declared, Michiel Reneman: None declared, Anneke Spoorenberg Grant/research support from: ReumaNederland Grant. Table 1QST distributions stratified for CSI (n=201)CSI <40CSI ≥40PPTthenarm. trapeziusm. rectus femorism. abductor hallucisreference areaapainful arealeftrightleftrightleftrightleftright37.2 ± 18.240.7 ± 19.138.6 ± 20.038.2 ± 20.054.6 ± 26.153.2 ± 26.636.4 ± 18.638.3 ± 19.737.7 ± 21.731.4 [22.2-48.6]27.7 ± 12.3*30.3 ± 15.4*30.4 ± 21.430.1 ± 18.7*42.3 ± 21.8*38.6 ± 23.1*29.3 ± 14.1*30.0 ± 16.2*27.8 ± 17.4*21.0 [14.4-34.8]*TSnon-dominant forearmreference areaapainful area0.5 [0.1-1.3]0.6 [0.1-1.3]0.7[(0.1-1.6]0.8 [0.2-2.1]1.3 [0.4-2.3]*1.4 [0.3-3.0]*CPMnon-dominant m. rectus femoris2.7 ± 13.10.4 ± 9.7*Statistically significant at p<0.004 (Bonferroni).

Oral cholera vaccination is used to induce immune responses in the intestines to protect against cholera infection. However, oral vaccination may also affect immune responses in other mucosal tissues. To study this, tissue-specific homing potential and kinetics of B-cell responses were characterized after oral cholera vaccination. Healthy adult volunteers received two doses of Dukoral® and blood, saliva, nasal wash, and fecal samples were collected over time to detect vaccine-specific antibodies. Additionally, homing potential of lymphocytes to small intestine, colon, airways, skin, and periphery was measured by expression of Integrin β1 and β7, CCR9, CCR10, CCR7, and CLA. After vaccination, antibody responses to cholera toxin B (CTB) and Dukoral® were detected in serum and nasal wash. CTB-specific memory B cells in peripheral blood and tissue homing profiles of memory B cells peaked at day 18. IgA+ memory B cells expressed markers that enable homing to the airways and colon, while IgA− memory B cells primarily expressed small-intestine-homing markers. These data show that oral cholera vaccination has a differential effect on immune responses in various mucosal sites, including the respiratory tract.

The distribution of plankton in the ocean is patchy across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. One type of oceanographic feature that exemplifies this patchiness is a ‘thin layer’. Thin layers are subsurface aggregations of plankton that range in vertical thickness from centimeters to a few meters, which may extend horizontally for kilometers and persist for days. We undertook a field campaign to characterize the biological, physical, and chemical properties of thin layers in Monterey Bay, California (USA), an area where these features can be persistent. The particle aggregates (marine snow) sampled in the study had several quantifiable properties indicating how the layer was formed and how its structure was maintained. Particles were more elongated above the layer, and then changed orientation angle and increased in size within the layer, suggesting passive accumulation of particles along a physical gradient. The shift in particle aggregate orientation angle near the pycnocline suggests that shear may also have played a role in generating the thin layer. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were the most abundant phytoplankton within the thin layer. Further, both dissolved and particulate domoic acid were highest within the thin layer. We suggest that phosphate stress is responsible for the formation of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. aggregates. This stress together with increased nitrogen in the layer may lead to increased bloom toxicity in the subsurface blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. Several zooplankton groups were observed to aggregate above and below the layer. With the knowledge that harmful algal bloom events can occur in subsurface thin layers, modified sampling methods to monitor for these hidden incubators could greatly improve the efficacy of early-warning systems designed to detect harmful algal blooms in coastal waters.

For application in broiler production, we developed a multispecies (MSPB) and a chicken-specific (CSPB) probiotic preparation in fluid form. The MSPB contained different probiotic species of human origin, whereas the CSPB consisted of 7 Lactobacillus species isolated from the digestive tract of chickens. In a field trial with broilers, MSPB treatment resulted in a slight increase (by 1.84%) in broiler productivity based on an index taking into account daily weight gain, feed efficiency, and mortality. The CSPB treatment reduced mortality in 2 subsequent field trials and raised productivity by 2.94 and 8.70%. In a controlled trial with broilers showing a high index of productivity, probiotic treatment further raised productivity by 3.72%. Based on the present 4 studies in combination with 9 studies published earlier, it is suggested that with higher productivity rates of the broilers the effect of probiotics becomes smaller.

Background: Previous studies suggest that administration of probiotics in vitro can stimulate regulatory and Th1 immune responses. We studied both the in vitro immunological effects of probiotics and the ex vivo immunological effects after oral administration of probiotics in children with food allergy, a Th2-mediated disease. Methods: Thirteen children were enrolled. Probiotics (n = 7) or placebo (n = 6) were orally administered during 3 months. At baseline and after 1 and 3 months, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with crude peanut extract, anti-CD3, or anti-CD40 and IL-4 in the presence (in vitro response) or absence (ex vivo response) of probiotics. The proliferation and production of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-13, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-6 and IgE were analyzed. Sensitization to peanut, cow’s milk and hen’s egg was determined before and after treatment. Results: The in vitro addition of probiotics to peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures resulted in enhanced proliferation and production of IFN-γ, IL-10 and TNF-α. After oral treatment, proliferation in the presence of probiotics increased, whereas in vitro IgE production decreased in the probiotics group compared to baseline. The ex vivo production of IL-10, TNF-α and IL-6 tended to decrease. Th1 and Th2 cytokines were not altered. Sensitization remained unchanged. Conclusion: Probiotics enhanced the production of Th1 and regulatory cytokines in vitro. Oral administration of probiotics resulted in a slightly decreased ex vivo production of IL-10, TNF-α and IL-6. This indicates that probiotics have a different potential to modulate the immune response in vitro versus ex vivo.

Thin layers of plankton have been documented in a wide variety of environments. The growing body of observations indicates that these features are a critical component of marine ecosystem dynamics and functioning. In the past two decades, much of the research on thin layers was undertaken in temperate coastal waters. Here, we report the first known observations of thin layers of phytoplankton in tropical Hawaiian waters. We conducted an overnight shipboard study during which time we made high-resolution observations of physical and optical structure in the water column. During the overnight cruise, we observed the greatest number of thin layers in the early evening hours when thermal stratification was strongest and most persistent due to a combination of warm air and surface water, as well as light winds. A comparison of these observations with those from temperate regions leads us to hypothesize that the nature and persistence of the physical structure is very important in determining the persistence of thin layered structures. Because plankton biomass is generally lower in tropical regions, the heterogeneous aggregation of food in thin subsurface layers may be more critical to the marine ecosystem than it is in temperate regions where plankton are generally more abundant.

Infection of pancreatic necrosis with intestinal flora is accepted to be a main predictor of outcome during severe acute pancreatitis. Bacterial translocation is the process whereby luminal bacteria migrate to extraintestinal sites. Animal models were proven indispensable in detecting three major aspects of bacterial translocation: small bowel bacterial overgrowth, mucosal barrier failure, and disturbed immune responses. Despite the progress made in the knowledge of bacterial translocation, the exact mechanism, origin and route of bacteria, and the optimal prophylactic and treatment strategies remain unclear. Methodological restrictions of animal models are likely to be the cause of this uncertainty. A literature review of animal models used to study bacterial translocation during acute pancreatitis demonstrates that many experimental techniques per se interfere with intestinal flora, mucosal barrier function, or immune response. Interference with these major aspects of bacterial translocation complicates interpretation of study results. This paper addresses these and other issues of animal models most frequently used to study bacterial translocation during acute pancreatitis.

Disease outbreaks with high mortality rates among seals and dolphins have recently attracted considerable public and scientific interest. Although in most cases morbilli-virus infections were shown to be the primary cause of the disease outbreaks, it was speculated that pollution-induced immunosuppression had played a contributory role. Here we present results of a prospective study under semifield conditions, in which two groups of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) were fed herring from marine regions with different contamination levels; the highly polluted Baltic Sea and the relatively unpolluted Atlantic Ocean. During a period of 93 weeks, parameters related to immune function were monitored and compared between the two groups. We found that natural killer-cell activity and mitogen-induced proliferative T-cell responses from the seals feeding on herring from the Baltic Sea were significantly lower. In addition, we observed higher levels of circulating polymorphonuclear granulocytes in these animals, which may indicate an increase in the occurrence of bacterial infections. This is the first demonstration of impaired immunological functions in mammals associated with chronic exposure to environmental contaminants accumulated through the marine food chain.