OBJECTIVE To compare humoral insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) concentrations in plasma and 3 types of equine autologous blood-derived preparations (ABPs). SAMPLE Blood and ABP samples from 12 horses. PROCEDURES Blood samples from each horse were processed by use of commercial systems to obtain plasma, platelet concentrate, conditioned serum, and aqueous platelet lysate. Half of the platelet concentrate samples were additionally treated with a detergent to release intracellular mediators. Humoral IGF-1, PDGF-BB, TGF-β1, and IL-1Ra concentrations were measured with ELISAs and compared statistically. RESULTS Median IGF-1 concentration was highest in conditioned serum and detergent-treated platelet concentrate, followed by platelet concentrate and plasma; IGF-1 was not detected in platelet lysate. Mean PDGF-BB concentration was highest in platelet lysate, followed by detergent-treated platelet concentrate and conditioned serum; PDGF-BB was not detected in plasma and platelet concentrate. Median TGF-β1 concentration was highest in detergent-treated platelet concentrate, followed by conditioned serum, platelet lysate, and platelet concentrate; TGF-β1 was not detected in most plasma samples. Median IL-1Ra concentration was highest in platelet lysate, followed by conditioned serum; IL-1Ra was not detected in almost all plasma, detergent-treated platelet concentrate, and platelet concentrate samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Each ABP had its own cytokine profile, which was determined by the specific processing method. Coagulation and cellular lysis strongly increased humoral concentrations of cell-derived cytokines. No ABP had the highest concentrations for all cytokines. Further studies are needed to assess clinical relevance of these findings.

Administration of an N-lauroylsarcosine-derived outer membrane protein fraction of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 (SCI-1) induced a protective response in calves against intrathoracic challenge exposure with the homologous serovar. Outer membrane proteins from heterologous serovars, A6 and A9, induced partial protection that was associated with their respective similarities to serovar A1 in outer membrane protein profiles derived by use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Calves vaccinated with SCI preparations did not have detectable neutralizing antibody to P haemolytica A1 leukotoxin. Antibodies to whole-cell antigens, carbohydrate-protein subunit antigen, and SCI-1 were associated with resistance, which indicates that protein antigens shared among cell surface, carbohydrate-protein subunit, and SCI preparations are immunogenic and enhance resistance to experimental challenge exposure.

Rice straw and oil palm empty fruit bunch were treated with urea
and commercial effective microorganisms to study their ability to breakdown fibres, improved in protein and energy values. In rice straw, the crude protein and crude fibre treated with urea and urea + effective microorganisms showed significant differences from the untreated control. The neutral detergent fibre and nitrogen free
extract values in the rice straw treatment did not show significant differences. Metabolizable energy values decreased with the treatment groups compared to the control. The results of keeping the treated rice straw in anaerobic plastic bags up to 30 days showed no significant breakdown of fibre components in the control and urea
treated groups. But there is a significant dropped in the neutral detergent fibre in urea + effective microorganisms treatment.
In oil palm empty fruit bunch, there were no significant differences seen in the crude protein, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen free extract and metabolisable energy values. Storage showed decreased in energy values in all treated groups. The addition of urea and microbes showed improved protein level and in the reduction of the fibre components in rice straw only. Keywords: rice straw, oil palm empty fruit bunch, urea, effective microorganisms, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre, neutral
detergent fibre, metabolisable energy.