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Objective:To observe any effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (p-CREB) in the spinal dorsal horns of diabetics experiencing neuropathic pain.Methods:Eight rats were randomly selected from 30 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats as the normal group (N), and the remaining twenty-two rats were treated with a single high-dose intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish a neuropathic pain model. The rats modeled successfully were randomly divided into a model group (M, n=8) and an EA group ( n=8). In the EA group, electroacupuncture was applied at the bilateral Hou san li and Kunlun acupoints starting on the 15th day after the STZ injection. The daily sessions lasted 30 minutes for 1 week. Body weight (BW), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were observed before the STZ injection and on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days afterward. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the dorsal horns of the rats′ spinal cords was detected using western blotting. The count of p-CREB-positive cells in the dorsal horns and their co-localization with neurons was detected using immunofluorescence. Results:In comparison with the N group, the average BW of the M group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after the STZ injection was significantly lower, while the average FBG was significantly higher. There was no significant difference between the M and N groups in the average PWL on the 7th day after the STZ injection, but it had decreased significantly in the M group on the 14th and 21st days. Compared with the M group, the average PWL of the EA group was significantly longer on the 21st day after the injection. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB protein in the spines of the M group was significantly higher than in the N group. p-CREB positive cells were more numerous in the M group compared with the N group, while in the EA group they were fewer. P-CREB was co-located with neurons in the spinal dorsal horn.Conclusion:EA can alleviate neuropathic pain effectively, perhaps by inhibiting the expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord.
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Objective:To analyze clinical and histopathological features of cutaneous horns, and to explore their relationship.Methods:A total of 204 patients with cutaneous horns confirmed by clinical and histopathological examinations were collected from Department of Pathology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital between January 2014 and May 2020, and their clinical and histopathological data were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among 204 patients, there were 88 males and 116 females with the age being 70.47±14.76 years and median ( P25, P75) course being 6 (6, 24) months. Cutaneous horns were solitary in 201 cases, and multiple in 3. There were a total of 207 cutaneous horns, including 163 (78.74%) located on the head, face and neck, 18 (8.70%) on the trunk and 26 (12.56%) on the extremities. According to histopathological conditions at the base of the cutaneous horns, 154 (74.40%) cutaneous horns were considered to arise from benign lesions (named as benign horns) , including viral warts ( n=129) , seborrheic keratosis ( n=15) , inverted follicular keratosis ( n=3) , trichilemmomas ( n=5) , pyogenic granuloma ( n=1) and calcifying epithelioma ( n=1) ; 40 (19.32%) were considered to arise from premalignant lesions (actinic keratosis) and named as premalignant horns; 13 (6.28%) were considered to arise from malignant lesions (named as malignant horns) , including Bowen′s disease ( n=5) and squamous cell carcinoma ( n=8) . The average ages of patients with premalignant and malignant horns were significantly higher than those of patients with benign horns ( H=4.05, 3.16, respectively, both P < 0.01) . The base width of the malignant horns was significantly higher than that of the premalignant and benign horns ( H=2.74, 3.49, P < 0.05, 0.01, respectively) , and there was no significant difference between the premalignant and benign horns ( H=0.73, P > 0.05) . The height to base width ratio was significantly lower in the premalignant and malignant horns than in the benign horns ( H=4.06, 3.72, respectively, both P < 0.01) . The incidence rate of basal erythema was significantly higher in the premalignant and malignant horns than that in the benign horns ( χ2=29.57, 6.23, P < 0.01, 0.05, respectively) , and bleeding and crusting occurred more frequently in the malignant horns compared with the benign horns ( χ2=4.89, P < 0.05) . Conclusions:The base of most cutaneous horns is benign, which mainly includes viral warts, and premalignant and malignant horns account for about a quarter. Male, older age, wide base, low ratio of the height to base width, basal erythema, history of bleeding and crusting can serve as clues to early recognition of malignant lesions at the base of cutaneous horns.
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Resumen La cornamenta del toro de lidia es la parte anatómica más importante del animal, ya que le confiere su carácter ofensivo y a la vez le dota de pureza e integridad. En la actualidad el veterinario es el garante de la intangibilidad de los cuernos y el encargado de examinarlos para evitar el fraude. Con el presente trabajo se pretende describir la metodología existente para el análisis de la manipulación del cuerno de cara a un mayor conocimiento de la comunidad científica veterinaria. Se recogen tanto los métodos descritos en la legislación vigente como otros sistemas que se podrían utilizar en el futuro basado en las nuevas tecnologías de análisis de imagen.
Abstract A bull's horns are the most important anatomical part of the animal, since it confers its offensive character while simultaneously endowing it with purity and integrity. Currently, the veterinarian is the guarantor of the intangibility of the horns and the person in charge of examining them to prevent fraud. The present work aims to describe to the veterinary scientific community, the methodology for the analysis of the manipulation of bull horns. Both the methods described in the current legislation and other systems that could be used in the future based on the new technologies of image analysis have been collected.
Resumo A cornadura ou chifres do boi é a parte da anatomia mais importante no animal, pois confere o seu caráter ofensivo e ao mesmo tempo pureza e integridade. Atualmente é o médico veterinário o encarregado de garantir a integridade dos chifres, sendo o responsável do exame para evitar fraudes. Este artigo pretende descrever a metodologia para a análise da manipilação dos cornos/chifres, a fim de obter uma melhor compreensão da comunidade científica. São tratados os métodos recolhidos na legislação atual, além dos possiveis métodos que poderiam ser usados no futuro com base nas novas tecnologias de análises mediante imagem.
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OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of eletroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (EX-B2) and "Mingmen" (GV4) on expression of NR2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) in the injured anterior horn (AH) area of rats with acute spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of neural repair. METHODS: A total of 96 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups: sham operation (sham), model, medication (Methyl-prednisone, MP) and EA (n＝24 in each group). The acute SCI model was established by using a MASCIS spinal cord impactor. EA (2 Hz, 0.5 mA) was applied to EX-B2 and GV4 for 30 min, once at 0.5 h, 12 and 24 h after SCI. Rats of the medication group were treated by tail intravenous injection of MP 30 mg/kg within 15 min (impact therapy) and 5.4 mg•kg－1•h－1 (maintaining treatment) 45 min thereafter for 23 h. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) rating scale (0 to 21 points) was used to assess changes of locomotor function 6, 24 and 48 h after SCI. Histopathological changes of the injured spinal cord AH region were observed after sectioning and hematoxylin-eosin (H.E.) staining, and the expression levels of NR2B mRNA and protein of AH were measured by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence, respectively. RESULTS: After SCI, the BBB scores at 6, 24 and 48 h were significantly decreased in the model group compared with those of the sham group (P0.05). After modeling, the histopathological changes (blurred border of the grey-white matter, cellular karyopyknosis, deepening of the cytoplasmic red stain, and rupture, dissolution and disordered arrangement of myelinated nerve fibers) in the injury area of the spinal cord in the model group were apparent, the number of NR2B positive neurons and the relative expression levels of NR2B mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the model group relevant to the sham group (P0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at EX-B2 and GV4 may inhibit the expression of NR2B mRNA and protein in acute SCI rats, which may contribute to its action in promoting nerve repair of the injured ventricolumna area of the thoracic spinal cord.
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OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on incisional pain and expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) of cervical dorsal part of spinal cord in rats with incisional neck pain, so as to explore its analgesic mechanisms. METHODS: Eighty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, EA-Futu(LI18) and EA-Zusanli(ST36)-Yanglingquan(GB34, EA-ST36-GB34) groups (n=21 in each group). The incisional neck pain model was established by making a longitudinal incision along the bilateral cervical thyroid regions and repeated mechanical separation stimulation. For rats of the EA groups, EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral LI18 or ST36-GB34 for 30 min/ time during the surgery, and 20 and 44 h after surgery, respectively. The thermal pain threshold (TPT) of the incisional region was detected. The immunoactivity of TNF-α and IL-10 of the dorsal portion of the cervical spinal cord (C2-C5) was detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4 and IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) mRNAs was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the TPT of the incisional area was significantly decreased at 4, 24 and 48 h after neck-incision (P<0.05), the levels of TNF-α mRNA, IL-10 mRNA and TNF-α IL-10 immunoactivity at 24 h were remarkably increased (P<0.05), and the expression of IL-4R mRNA was considerably decreased at 24 h in the model group (P<0.05). Following EA intervention, the TPT, and expression levels of IL-4 mRNA and IL-4R mRNA were significantly increased at 24 h after surgery in the EA-LI18 group relevant to the model group (P<0.05), while the expression level of TNF-α(coexpressed with microgliacytes) in the EA-LI18 group, and TNF-α mRNA expression at 24 h in both EA-LI18 and EA-ST36-GB34 groups, as well as the expression of IL-10 and IL-10 mRNA at 24 h in both EA-LI18 and EA-ST36-GB34 groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The effect of EA LI18 was significantly superior to that of EA ST36-GB34 in up-regulating TPT and expression of IL-4 mRNA and IL-4R mRNA at 24 h (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of LI18 has an analgesic effect in incisional neck pain rats, which may be related to its effect in down-regulating the expression of TNF-α, IL-10 and promoting IL-4 /IL-4R signaling in dorsal portions of the cervical spinal cord. The analgesic effect of EA LI18 is better than that of EA ST36-GB34.
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OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of different frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on pain threshold (PT) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in dorsal horns (DHs) of the lumbar spinal cord in resiniferatoxin (RTX)-induced post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) rats, so as to reveal its mechanism in alleviating PHN. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomized into control, model, 2 Hz-EA, 15 Hz-EA, 100 Hz-EA and sham EA groups (n=16 in each). The PHN model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of RTX (250 μg/kg), and rats of the control group received intraperitoneal injection of the same dose of vehicle (10% Tween 80, 10% alcohol and 0.9% NaCl). Rats of EA treatment groups received EA stimulation (2 Hz, 15 Hz or 100 Hz, 1 mA) at the left "Huantiao" (GB 30) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) for 30 min, once every other day for 35 days, starting from 1 week after RTX injection. For sham control, acupuncture needles were inserted ipsilaterally into GB 30 and GB 34 for 30 min without electrical stimulation or manual needle manipulation. The mechanical allodynia was quantified with Von Frey filaments. The expression of mRNA and protein of VEGF in the DHs of lumbar spinal cord 4-6 segments (sampled under light microscope) was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: A single RTX injection gradually induced tactile allodynia (significant reduction of the mechanical PT) within 3 weeks relevant to the control group (P<0.01). EA applied to GB 30 and GB 34 at 2 Hz and 15 Hz, but not 100 Hz, significantly decreased the tactile allodynia after the treatment (2 Hz from 2 weeks on and 15 Hz from 3 weeks on) in RTX-treated rats (P<0.05). RTX administration increased the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF in the lumbar spinal cord compared with the control group (P<0. 05). Moreover, 2 Hz, but not 15 Hz and 100 Hz EA significantly reduced VEGF mRNA and protein expression(P<0.05). The expression of both VEGF mRNA and protein was negatively correlated with mechanical PT in RTX-induced PHN rats. CONCLUSION: EA at 2 Hz can significantly reduce VEGF expression in the lumbar spinal cord DHs of PHN rats, which is possibly in part related to its effect in alleviating the mechanical allodynia. Our study suggests that 2 Hz EA is the best stimulation frequency for relieving PHN.
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Objective Through the DNA barcoding 12s rRNA sequences alignment and analysis of several rhinoceros horns products involved in cases to analysis the application feasibility of 12s rRNA in the rhinoceros horns products’ species identification. Methods Use rhinoceros horns products in 3 cases as materials, total DNA were extracted with improved method, PCR ampliifcation the DNA barcoding. Results The alignment and analysis of sequences show that 12s rRNA could identify rhinoceros horns products at the species level. Conclusion The DNA barcoding 12s rRNA could be used as a new way to identify the rhinoceros horns products which can’t be identiifed with morphological characteristics, provide a reliable basis for the qualitative and sentencing of cases.
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Background: the anatomy and physiology of bovid horns are consistent with their thermoregulatory function. Objective: to evaluate a possible correlation between ear and horn size, as key factors for body thermoregulation. Methods: measurements of horns (length and perimeter) and ears (length and width) were obtained from forty-six Pyrenean Brown (Bruna dels Pirineus) beef calves. The sample was randomly distributed between horned (n=34) and polled (n=12) animals, aged 332 ± 56 days. Results: a negative correlation between ear and horn size was observed (p<0.05) and the multivariate clustering demonstrated a tendency of polled animals towards bigger ear size. Conclusions: according to these results, horns and ears contribute to thermoregulation; this function is not therefore solely a function of big or small horns, as has normally been stated to be the case. Although the sample is small, results would indicate an interesting hypothesis for future research.
Antecedentes: la anatomía y fisiología de los cuernos bovinos está relacionada con su posible función termoregulatoria. Objetivo: este estudio fue diseñado para evaluar la correlación entre el tamaño de los cuernos y de las orejas y su relación con la termorregulación. Métodos: se obtuvieron varias medidas de los cuernos (longitud y perímetro) y de las orejas (largo y ancho) en 46 terneros de la raza Parda de los Pirineos (Bruna dels Pirineus). La muestra se distribuyó aleatoriamente entre animales queratos (n=34) y aqueratos (n=12), con una edad promedio de 332 ± 56 días. Resultados: la correlación entre los tamaños auricular y cornual fue negativa (p<0,05), mostrándose a la vez, en el agrupamiento multivariado, una tendencia de los animales aqueratos a presentar orejas más grandes. Conclusión: a la vista de los resultados obtenidos en esta investigación, parecería que tanto los cuernos como las orejas contribuyen a la termorregulación, que no recaería entonces en tener solamente cuernos grandes o pequeños, como normalmente ha venido afirmándose. A pesar de que la muestra analizada es pequeña, los resultados obtenidos indicarían una hipótesis de trabajo interesante para investigaciones futuras.
Antecedentes: a anatomia e fisiologia dos chifres no gado está relacionada à sua possível função de termorregulação. Objetivo: este estudo foi desenhado para avaliar a correlação entre o tamanho dos chifres e das orelhas e a sua relação com a termorregulação. Métodos: várias medidas dos chifres (perímetro e largura) e orelhas (comprimento e largura) em 46 bezerros da raça Brown nos Pirinéus (Bruna dels Pirineus) foram obtidas. A amostra foi aleatoriamente distribuida entre animais queratos (n=34) e aqueratos (n=12), com uma idade média de 332 ± 56 dias. Resultados: a correlação foi negativa entre tamanho da orelha e tamanhos cornuais (p<0,05), mostrando no agrupamento multivariado uma tendência de animais aqueratos para apresentar orelhas maiores. Conclusão: tendo em vista os resultados obtidos nesta investigação, parece que ambos os chifres e as orelhas contribuem para a termorregulação. Então, a termorregulação não só estaria em ter chifres grandes ou pequenos, como normalmente tem se afirmado. Apesar de a amostra analisada ser pequena, os resultados indicam uma hipótese interessante para futuras pesquisas.
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Cornos cutâneos são infrequentes em gatos, principalmente em felinos jovens. Neste trabalho, é relatado um caso de um felino da raça Persa, macho, com oito meses de idade e apresentando histórico de espirros. Ao exame clínico, identificaram-se projeções corniformes originadas nos coxins palmares e plantares. A avaliação histológica de biópsia excisional demonstrou hiperqueratose densa, com numerosos queratinócitos sobre epiderme hiperplásica, não sendo identificado nenhum grau de malignidade. Não foi constatada a associação das lesões com a infecção pelo vírus da leucemia felina. O tratamento instituído incluiu excisão parcial mensal dos cornos cutâneos e acompanhamento clínico do animal.
Cutaneous horns are seldom seen in cats, especially in young ones. A case of a Persian cat, male, eight months old, with a history of sneezes is described. During physical examination, multiple horns on the all footpads were noticed. The histopathological diagnosis of excisional biopsy was dense hyperkeratosis, with numerous keratinocytes above hyperplastic epidermis and no evidence of malignity. There was no association between the lesions and infection with leukemia virus. The treatment was mensal trimming off the cutaneous horns and clinical follow up of the animal.
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Dados histológicos e morfométricos foram obtidos de útero de cadelas nulíparas (n=6), multíparas (n=6) e de cadelas tratadas com contraceptivo (n=6). Para esse fim foram usadas seis amostras de cornos uterinos, em corte médio, para cada grupo. As mensurações das espessuras da parede uterina, endométrio total, miométrio total, miométrio interno, miométrio externo, estrato vascular e diâmetro das glândulas endometriais normais não foram estatisticamente significantes entre as cadelas multíparas e tratadas, com exceção para a altura do epitélio de glândulas normais. As mensurações das espessuras da parede uterina, endométrio total, miométrio total, miométrio interno, diâmetro das glândulas normais e altura do epitélio glandular foram significantes, comparando cadelas nulíparas com as multíparas e/ou tratadas, com exceção para as espessuras do miométrio externo e estrato vascular. Diante dos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que os dados numéricos confirmam que (1) o uso de anticoncepcionais e sucessivas gestações afetam a estrutura uterina em seu total; (2) o miométrio externo e estrato vascular foram as regiões que menos sofreram alterações comparando-se os 3 grupos; (3) as variações morfológicas ocorreram com a mesma intensidade no endométrio e miométrio totais para as cadelas tratadas e multíparas, e (4) a presença de glândulas endometriais dilatadas foi o diferencial encontrado nas cadelas tratadas, pois as mesmas estavam ausentes nas multíparas e nulíparas.
Histological and morphometric data were obtained from uterus of nulliparous bitches (n=6), multiparous ones (n=6), and bitches treated with contraceptive (n=6). Six samples of uterine horns, cut in average for each group. Measurements of the thickness of the uterine wall, total endometrium, total myometrium, internal myometrium, external myometrium, vascular layer and diameter of normal endometrial glands were not statistically significant between the treated and multiparous bitches, except for the height of the epithelium of normal glands. Measurements of thickness of the uterine wall, total endometrium, total myometrium, myometrium internal diameter and height of the glands of normal glandular epithelium were significant, comparing nulliparous with multiparous bitches and/or treated, except for thickness of the myometrium and vascular outer layer. It can be concluded that (1) the use of contraceptives and successive pregnancies affected uterine structures in its full, (2) the vascular layer and external myometrium were the regions with less variation, (3) morphological changes occurred with the same intensity in the total endometrium and myometrium of treated and multiparous bitches; and (4) the presence of dilated endometrial glands was the difference found in the treated bitches, because they were absent in nulliparous and multiparous ones.
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Animals , Female , Dogs , Contraceptive Agents/adverse effects , Endometrium/anatomy & histology , Endometrium , Myometrium/anatomy & histology , Myometrium , Parity , DogsABSTRACT
Porokeratosis is a disorder of keratinization showing a well-defined lesion with a hyperkeratotic ridge on the border that contains the coronoid lamella. We report familial (autosomal dominant with reduced penetrance) disseminated plaque type (Mibelli's type) porokeratosis in a father and son. In the father, there were multiple horns and a large squamous cell carcinoma in a large lesion over the perianal region that reached up to the squamo-columnar junction of the anal mucosa and even invaded the anal sphincteric muscles. Disseminated lesions of the Mibelli's type, development of horns, and malignancy in this unusual location have not been previously reported.
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We present herein a case of 20 nail onychogryphosis with localized plantar hyper keratosis and cutaneous horns occuring in a 21 year-old schizophrenic female patient. The finger nails were brownish in color and the surface of nail plates has the coarse transverse striations. The nail plates beyond the free edge were thickened and curved inward markedly. The toe nails were dirty grayish in color and the nail plates were thickened markedly and curved like the horn of ram. All the nail plates were seperated and removed from the nail beds without any difficulty and the nail matrices were destroyed by electrodesiccation. Lacalized plantar hyperkeratosis and cutaneous horns were also removed successfully by occlusive dressing with 40% salicylic acid ointment and by surgical excision. Psychogenic disorder and prolonged hygienic indifference could be the most. probable cause in this patient.