Effect of quercetin and role of nitric oxide pathway in chloroquine-induced scratching

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is an abundant mediator which is demonstrated to be involved in pruritus. Assuming that the increased NO also mediates chloroquine-induced pruritus, which is a frequent complication seen in the chronic chloroquine treatment, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin and the role of NO in chloroquine-induced pruritus in C57BL/6 mice. Model was created with subcutaneous chloroquine (400µg/site) injection to the nape of the mice. Effect of quercetin and role of NO were investigated with administration of quercetin, and co-administration with L-NAME, 7-NI and L-arginine before chloroquine injection. Locomotor activity was assessed by activity cage and number of the scratching bouts after chloroquine injection was recorded for 30 minutes. Our results show that quercetin significantly reduced scratching bouts at the doses of 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg. Locomotor activity was decreased at the 40 and 80 mg/kg doses of quercetin. Additionally, decrease of the number of scratching bouts by quercetin prevented by L-arginine treatment, while L-NAME and 7-NI enhanced the anti-pruritic effect of sub-effective doses of quercetin. Therefore, our study demonstrated that acute injection of quercetin significantly diminished chloroquine-induced scratching behavior, and this effect is partly mediated by inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase enzyme.

Machine-Learning Based Automatic and Real-time Detection of Mouse Scratching Behaviors

Scratching is a main behavioral response accompanied by acute and chronic itch conditions, and has been quantified as an objective correlate to assess itch in studies using laboratory animals. Scratching has been counted mostly by human annotators, which is a time-consuming and laborious process. It has been attempted to develop automated scoring methods using various strategies, but they often require specialized equipment, costly software, or implantation of device which may disturb animal behaviors. To complement limitations of those methods, we have adapted machine learning-based strategy to develop a novel automated and real-time method detecting mouse scratching from experimental movies captured using monochrome cameras such as a webcam. Scratching is identified by characteristic changes in pixels, body position, and body size by frame as well as the size of body. To build a training model, a novel two-step J48 decision tree-inducing algorithm along with a C4.5 post-pruning algorithm was applied to three 30-min video recordings in which a mouse exhibits scratching following an intradermal injection of a pruritogen, and the resultant frames were then used for the next round of training. The trained method exhibited, on average, a sensitivity and specificity of 95.19% and 92.96%, respectively, in a performance test with five new recordings. This result suggests that it can be used as a non-invasive, automated and objective tool to measure mouse scratching from video recordings captured in general experimental settings, permitting rapid and accurate analysis of scratching for preclinical studies and high throughput drug screening.

Scratching Stimuli of Mycelia Influence Fruiting Body Production and ROS-Scavenging Gene Expression of Cordyceps militaris

The entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps militaris is a valuable medicinal ascomycete, which degenerates frequently during subsequent culture. To avoid economic losses during industrialized production, scratching stimuli of mycelia was introduced to improve the fruiting body production. The present results indicated that higher yields and biological efficiency were obtained from two degenerate strains (YN1-14 and YN2-7) but not from g38 (an insertional mutant in Rhf1 gene with higher yields and shorter growth periods). Furthermore, the growth periods of the fruiting bodies were at least 5 days earlier when the mycelia were scratched before stromata differentiation. Three ROS-scavenging genes including Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CmSod1), Glutathione peroxidase (CmGpx), and Catalase A (CmCat A) were isolated and their expression profiles against scratching were determined in degenerate strain YN1-14 and mutant strain g38. At day 5 after scratching, the expression level of CmGpx significantly decreased for strain g38, but that of CmSod1 significantly increased for YN1-14. These results indicated that scratching is an effective way to promote fruiting body production of degenerate strain, which may be related at least with Rhf1 and active oxygen scavenging genes.

Fatores relacionados a problemas de comportamento em gatos / Factors associated with behavior problems in cats

Os problemas de comportamento apresentam importância não só no bem estar animal e na qualidade da relação humana-animal como também em saúde publica. Problemas de comportamento são uma das principais razões de abandono e subsequentemente o destino destes animais são abrigos ou até mesmo eutanásia. Além disso, a agressividade é um fator de risco para transmissão de zoonoses. Com o objetivo de avaliar a frequência de fatores relacionados a problemas de comportamento em gatos, foram coletadas informações de 229 gatos através de um questionário aplicado em tutores que aguardavam atendimento no Hospital de Clínicas Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (HCV-UFRGS). Dentre os comportamentos arranhadura em móveis foi o problema comportamental mais frequente (65,1%- IC 95%: 58,5-71,4%) seguido de agressividade (61,3%- IC 95%: 54,2-67,1%), eliminação inapropriada (37,1%- IC 95%: 31,3-42,1%) e vocalização excessiva (23,6%- IC 95%: 20,1-29,8%). Os dados foram analisados por regressão logística com uma função de ligação logit. De acordo com a análise univariada, a presença de um arranhador teve uma relação significativa protetiva, podendo contribuir para a redução do comportamento de arranhar móveis (risco relativo [RR]=0.31- IC 95%:0.19 - 0.53). Fêmeas e gatos assustados foram identificados com maior dificuldade de ter uma relação amigável com outros gatos RR=3.56 (IC 95%:1.78 - 7.11), RR=2.84( IC 95%:1.60 - 5.04) respectivamente também quanto maior o número de gatos na residência, maiores as chances de haver eliminação inapropriada. Os gatos castrados antes da puberdade apresentaram menos chances de desenvolver eliminação inapropriada RR=0.43 (IC 95%:0.21-0.88) e, finalmente, a vocalização excessiva foi relacionada com busca de atenção RR=2.62 (IC 95%:1.54 - 4.45). Os resultados desse estudo podem ajudar a prevenir problemas comportamentais em felinos domésticos.(AU)

Behavioral problems have importance not only in animal welfare and the quality of human-animal relationship, but also in public health. Behavior problems are a major reason of abandonment and subsequently the fate of these animals are shelters or even euthanasia. Furthermore, the aggressiveness is a risk factor for zoonoses transmission. In order to assess the frequency of factors related to behavior problems, information from 229 cats were collected through a questionnaire applied to tutors awaiting for care in clinics in Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (HCV-UFRGS). Among the behaviors scratch furniture was the most common problem (65.1% - CI95%: 58.5 to 71.4%), followed by aggressiveness (61.3% - CI95%: 54.2 to 67, 1%), inappropriate elimination (37.1% - 9 CI95%: 31.3 to 42.1%) and excessive vocalization (23.6% - CI95%: 20.1 to 29.8%). Data were analyzed by logistic regression with a logit link function. Univariate analysis identified the presence of scratching as significant protective factor, that may contribute to the reduction of scratching furniture (Relative risk [RR] = 0.31- CI95%: 0:19 to 0:53). Females and frightened cats were identified as having more difficulty were for friendly relationship with other cats RR = 3.56 (CI95%: 1.78-7.11), RR = 2.84 (95% CI: 1.60-5.04) respectively; also the higher the number of cats in a residence, the greater the chance for inappropriate elimination. Neutered cats before puberty had less chance of developing inappropriate elimination RR = 0:43 (CI95%: 0.21-0.88), and finally, excessive vocalization was related to obtain tutor attention RR = 2.62 (CI95%: 1:54 to 4:45). The results of this study may help prevent behavioral problems in domestic cats.(AU)

The Application of two Endometrial Mechanical Stimulation Methods in Patients with Repeated Implantation Failure / 实用医学杂志

Objective To explore the clinical application of two endometrial mechanical stimulation methods in patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycle. Methods A total of 127 women with RIF who planned to perform FET again were included. They were separated into 3 groups: Group A (45 cases) with endometrial scratching and group B (42 cycles) with endometrial sucking within menstrual period in FET cycle, while in control group C (40 cases), no endometrial mechanical stimulation was performed. The outcomes of pregnancy were compared. Results The endometrial types of endometrial scratching group were mainly type A. The embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate in group A (27.27%, 46.67%) were significantly higher than those in group B (12.75 %, 21.43%) and group C (11.46%, 20.0%) (P <0.05). Conclusion The endometrial mechanical stimulation can improve the endometrial receptivity, compare with endometrial sucking, endometrial scratching can improve the clinical pregnancy rate of RIF patients more obviously.

Clinical Application of Endometrial Scratching in Patients with Repeated Implantation Failure / 华中科技大学学报(医学版)

Objective To explore the clinical application of endometrial scratching in patients with repeated implantation failure(RIF).Methods A total of 189 women with RIF who planned to undergo in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF‐ET)once again at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Tongji Hospital ,Huazhong University of Science and Technology ,be‐tween October 2013 and August 2014 ,were prospectively examined.These women were infertile due to tubal factors ,with their male partners having normal semen measurements.According to the case numbers ,the 189 patients were randomly divided into experimental group(n=96)and control group(n=93).In the experimental group ,endometrial scratching was conducted within 6 h of one menstrual cycle one month before oocyte retrieval ,while in control group ,no endometrial scratching was performed at that time.The outcomes of pregnancy were compared between the two groups after embryo transplantation.Results There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the patient age ,infertility duration ,body mass index(BMI) ,basal levels of follicle‐stimulating hormone(FSH) ,luteinizing hormone(LH) ,and progesterone(P) ,gonadotropin‐releasing hormone(Gn‐RH) injection days and doses ,the number of retrieved oocytes ,the number of transferred embryos ,the endometrial thickness and lev‐els of estradiol(E2 )and P on the day of HCG injection(P>0.05).The embryo implantation rate ,the clinical pregnancy rate and the ongoing pregnancy rate in the experimental group were much higher than those in the control group ,with statistically signif‐icant difference noted(P<0.01).Conclusion The endometrial scratching can improve the endometrial receptivity and enhance the clinical pregnancy rate of RIF patients.

A case of atopic dermatitis with improved symptoms by moxibustion treatment to the affected area / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]This report is a case where Chinetsu moxibustion treatment (feeling heat but non-scarring moxibustion) improved atopic dermatitis symptoms;despite the internal application of antihistamines and external application of topical steroids. Prolonged damp erythema and scars were caused by scratching during sleep.<BR>[Method]The patient received Chinetsu moxibustion to the affected area (left popliteal fossa and both hands) once every 2 weeks over an 11 month period, totaling 25 treatment sessions. <BR>[Results]The scars by scratching during sleep were reduced from the day after the first moxibustion. After one month of treatment, the symptom level of the patient's left popliteal fossa changed from "moderate"to "slight". For her hands, the symptom level improved from "moderate"to "slight"after 9 months. As a result, her doctor halved the amount of internal medicine and switched topical steroids to moisturizer only for external treatment. The patient's skin condition continued to be good after 11 months, so treatments by moxibustion and internal medication were terminated.<BR>[Conclusion]It is suggested that Chinetsu moxibustion treatment may be effective for preventing scratching behavior during sleep, and therefore may complement dermatologic treatment for atopic dermatitis.

Extragenital Primary Syphilis Acquired by Scratching with the Fingernails / 감염

A 46-year-old woman was admitted with an ulcerative lesion on the posterior neck. Four months before admission, the patient took part in a faith healing ritual, which the pastor performed with his fingernails causing wounds. This abnormal method of healing caused repeated injury to the patient in the posterior neck area. Treatment with cefazolin was begun, but the lesion did not improve. Biopsy of the skin lesion and cervical lymph nodes was performed. Microscopical examination revealed findings highly suggestive of syphilis. Serological tests for syphilis were positive and a computed tomographic (CT) scan of the neck showed enlargement of regional lymph nodes and tonsils. A single dose of penicillin G 2.4 million units was given intramuscularly. Two weeks later, the wound had healed. Eight weeks after treatment, the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory titer had decreased and a CT scan of the neck showed a decrease in the size of the lymph nodes. We reasoned that syphilis was non-sexually transmitted, and that the healing ritual was the cause. Our case suggests that skin trauma by scratching with the fingernails may cause an accidental direct inoculation of Treponema pallidum, resulting in extragenital primary syphilis.

Appearance of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Following Corneal Scratching Wound by Impression Cytology

The linear scratching wound was made gently on the corneal epithelium of rabbit with 21 gauge needle under an operating microscope. Impression cytology was performed at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hour and 1, 2, 3 and 4 day after 0.5% tetracaine drops under an operating microscope. The filter paper was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. At 30 minute post-scratching, a few polymorphonuclear leukocytes appeared on the scratched cornea at 3 eyes (30%). At 3 and 4 hour, numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes with corneal epithelial cells appeared on the scratched conea. By 3 day, no inflammatory cells were shown on the filter paper in all eyes. These findings suggest that the polymorphonuclear leukocytes could infiltrate on the corneal lesion at 30 minute post-scratching and the inflammatory cells might act even on the minute corneal lesion such as corneal erosion.