Comparative efficacy of two-dimensional mode and color Doppler sonography in predicting gender of the equine fetus.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ultrasonographic fetal sexing is of utmost economic importance for horse breeders. Relatively, a few studies have been conducted to determine fetal sex in mare using transrectal Doppler ultrasound. This study aimed to compare two sexing techniques, two-dimensional (2D) mode and color Doppler ultrasonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 39 mares under field conditions. Examinations were performed using the ultrasonic model device (Medison SonoAce Pico, South Korea), equipped with real-time 3-7 MHz convex multifrequency transducer. Fetal sex diagnosis was carried out in two periods of pregnancy, early period (57-80 days of gestation) and late period (80-150 days of gestation). RESULTS: No difference (p=0.4) was observed between the efficiency of the 2D mode and Doppler ultrasound in sex determination with the respective frequency of 74% and 85%. The best time to sex the early fetus was between 57 and 70 days of gestation and between 90 and 120 days for the older fetus. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of sex determination can be increased using Doppler mode compared to 2D mode, especially in the early period between 57 and 70 days, in male more than female sex.

Sepsis induces long-term metabolic and mitochondrial muscle stem cell dysfunction amenable by mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

Sepsis, or systemic inflammatory response syndrome, is the major cause of critical illness resulting in admission to intensive care units. Sepsis is caused by severe infection and is associated with mortality in 60% of cases. Morbidity due to sepsis is complicated by neuromyopathy, and patients face long-term disability due to muscle weakness, energetic dysfunction, proteolysis and muscle wasting. These processes are triggered by pro-inflammatory cytokines and metabolic imbalances and are aggravated by malnutrition and drugs. Skeletal muscle regeneration depends on stem (satellite) cells. Herein we show that mitochondrial and metabolic alterations underlie the sepsis-induced long-term impairment of satellite cells and lead to inefficient muscle regeneration. Engrafting mesenchymal stem cells improves the septic status by decreasing cytokine levels, restoring mitochondrial and metabolic function in satellite cells, and improving muscle strength. These findings indicate that sepsis affects quiescent muscle stem cells and that mesenchymal stem cells might act as a preventive therapeutic approach for sepsis-related morbidity.

Cu2O behavior under pressure: an ab initio study.

We have performed density-functional theory calculations for three crystallographic phases (cuprite, CdI(2), and CdCl(2)) of the cuprous oxide by using both the local-density approximation (LDA) and the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof generalized-gradient approximation. The latter gives a very good description of the properties of the cuprite phase at room temperature. In particular, the bulk modulus and the elastic constants at zero pressure are in excellent agreement with experiment. At 10 GPa (7 in LDA calculations), the transition from the cuprite to the CdI(2) phase occurs, and the latter remains the phase having the smallest Gibbs energy up to the maximum pressure we have considered (20 GPa). We have also determined the elastic constants of Cu(2)O in the cuprite phase for various applied pressures. The results indicate that this structure becomes unstable with respect to trigonal deformations before the transition to the CdI(2) phase. On the other hand, no indication of instability with respect to tetragonal deformations has been found. This kind of instability would occur at pressures greater than the phase transition pressure.