MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study employed 28 young female Wistar albino rats weighing 250-300 grams. An experimental adhesion model was created in each rat using serosal abrasion and peritoneal excision. They were divided into four groups, each comprising seven rats: Group 1, adhesion induction only; Group 2, resveratrol administration only; Group 3, octreotide administration only; and Group 4, administration of resveratrol and octreotide combination. The rats were monitored under appropriate conditions for 14 days and then underwent laparotomy. Macroscopic intensity and extensiveness of adhesions and microscopic changes in the granulation tissue (cellular intensity, reticular and collagen fibers, capillaries, elastic and smooth muscle fibers, fibrosis) were evaluated and graded. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test were used in statistical analysis and the level of statistical significance was established as p <0.05.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the intensity and extensiveness of macroscopic adhesions (p=0.377 and p=0.319). There was a statistically significant difference between the microscopic scores of the groups according to Zühlke's classification (p=0.026). The Bonferroni correction used to test for the differences revealed that the rats in Group 1 achieved significantly higher scores than the rats in Group 3 (p=0.016).
CONCLUSION: Octreotide showed higher efficiency compared to the control group in microscopic classification; however, the two agents were not superior to each other or their combination was not superior in preventing intra-abdominal adhesions.
METHODS: We produced two NiV vaccine candidates using the licensed VSV-EBOV vaccine as a backbone and tested its efficacy against lethal homologous and heterologous NiV challenge with Nipah virus Bangladesh and Nipah virus Malaysia, respectively, in the African green monkey model.
FINDINGS: The VSV-EBOV vaccine expressing NiV glycoprotein G (VSV-NiVG) induced high neutralising antibody titers and afforded complete protection from homologous and heterologous challenge. The VSV-EBOV vaccine expressing NiV fusion protein F (VSV-NiVF) induced a lower humoral response and afforded complete homologous protection, but only partial heterologous protection. Both vaccines reduced virus shedding from the upper respiratory tract, and virus replication in the lungs and central nervous system. None of the protected animals vaccinated with VSV-NiVG or VSV-NiVF showed histological lesions in the CNS, but one VSV-NiVF-vaccinated animal that was not protected developed severe meningoencephalitis.
INTERPRETATION: The VSV-NiVG vaccine offers broad protection against NiV disease.
FUNDING: This study was supported by the Intramural Research Program, NIAID, NIH.
RESULTS: Our results demonstrate genetic control for FCR in tilapia, with a heritability estimate of 0.32 ± 0.11. Response to selection estimates showed FCR could be efficiently improved by selective breeding. Due to low genetic correlations, selection for growth traits would not improve FCR. However, weight loss at fasting has a high genetic correlation with FCR (0.80 ± 0.25) and a moderate heritability (0.23), and could be an easy to measure and efficient criterion to improve FCR by selective breeding in tilapia.
CONCLUSION: At this age, FCR is genetically determined in Nile tilapia. A selective breeding program could be possible and could help enabling the development of a more sustainable aquaculture production.