Ecological landscape explains aquifers microbial structure.

Aquifers have significant social, economic, and ecological importance. They supply 30 % of the freshwater for human consumption worldwide, including agricultural and industrial use. Despite aquifers' importance, the relationships between aquifer categories and their inhabiting microbial communities are still unknown. Characterizing variations within microbial communities' function and taxonomy structure at different aquifers could give a panoramic view of patterns that may enable the detection and prediction of environmental impact caused by multiple sources. Using publicly available shotgun metagenomic datasets, we examined whether soil properties, land use, and climate variables would have a more significant influence on the taxonomy and functional structure of the microbial communities than the ecological landscapes of the aquifer (i.e., Karst, Porous, Saline, Geyser, and Porous Contaminated). We found that these categories are stronger predictors of microbial communities' structure than geographical localization. In addition, our results show that microbial richness and dominance patterns are the opposite of those found in multicellular life, where extreme habitats harbour richer functional and taxonomic microbial communities. We found that low-abundant and recently described candidate taxa, such as the chemolithoautotrophic genus Candidatus Altiarcheum and the Candidate phylum Parcubacteria, are the main contributors to aquifer microbial communities' dissimilarities. Genes related to gram-negative bacteria proteins, cell wall structures, and phage activity were the primary contributors to aquifer microbial communities' dissimilarities among the aquifers' ecological landscapes. The results reported in the present study highlight the utility of using ecological landscapes for investigating aquifer microbial communities. In addition, we suggest that functions played by recently described and low abundant bacterial groups need further investigation once they might affect water quality, geochemical cycles, and the effects of anthropogenic disturbances such as pollution and climatic events on aquifers.

Antioxidants as Renoprotective Agents for Ischemia during Partial Nephrectomy.

Small renal masses have been diagnosed increasingly in recent decades, allowing surgical treatment by partial nephrectomy. This treatment option is associated with better renal function preservation, in comparison with radical nephrectomy. However, for obtaining a bloodless field during surgery, occlusion of renal artery and veins is often required, which results in transitory ischemia. The renal ischemia-reperfusion injury is associated with increased reactive oxygen species production leading to renal tissue damage. Thus, the use of antioxidants has been advocated in the partial nephrectomy perioperative period. Several antioxidants were investigated in regard to renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. The present manuscript aims to present the literature on the most commonly studied antioxidants used during partial nephrectomy. The results of experimental and clinical studies using antioxidants during partial nephrectomy are reported. Further, alimentary sources of some antioxidants are presented, stimulating future studies focusing on perioperative antioxidant-rich diets.

Mannitol reduces nephron loss after warm renal ischemia in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Mannitol has been employed to ameliorate renal warm ischemia damage during partial nephrectomy, however, there is limited scientific evidence to support the use of mannitol during partial nephrectomy. The objective of the present study was to investigate the glomerular number after renal warm ischemia, with and without the use of mannitol in a Pig Model. METHODS: Twenty-four male pigs were assigned into three groups. Eight animals were allocated to the sham group that was subjected to laparoscopic dissection of the left renal hilum, without renal ischemia. Eight animals were allocated to the ischemia group that had the left renal hilum clamped for 30 min through laparoscopic access. Eight animals received mannitol (250 mg/kg) before the occlusion of renal hilum for 30 min. The kidneys were collected after the euthanasia of the pigs 21 days post surgery. The right kidney was utilized as a self-control for each animal. Serum creatinine, urea levels, the weight and volume of the kidneys were measured. Glomerular volumetric density, volume-weighted glomerular volume, and cortical volume were quantified through stereological methods and employed to determine the number of nephrons per kidney. Student's t test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the ischemia group, the left kidney recorded a reduction of 24.6% (290, 000 glomeruli) in the number of glomeruli in comparison to the right kidney. Kidneys subjected to ischemia also displayed decreased weight and volume in comparison to the sham and mannitol groups. No difference was observed between the left and right kidneys from the sham and mannitol groups. Further, no distinction in serum creatinine and urea among the groups was observed. CONCLUSION: The use of mannitol significantly reduces nephron loss during warm ischemia in pigs.

Glomerular Morphology and Renal Function after Warm Ischemia by Main Artery or Selective Clamping in a Porcine Model.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the ischemic and non-ischemic areas after selective arterial occlusion by using stereological analysis of glomeruli, and to compare them with main arterial clamping and sham-operated animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four male pigs were used in the study. The animals were divided into 3 groups with 8 animals in each as follows: group sham, submitted to laparoscopic dissection of the renal pedicle but not submitted to ischemia; group arterial (A), submitted to left renal artery clamping; and group selective (S), submitted to left renal artery caudal branch occlusion. Groups A and S underwent 30 min of warm ischemia. Left and right kidneys were collected after 21 days and renal fragments were processed for stereological evaluation. Glomerular volume density (Vv[glom]), mean glomerular volume (MGV), and glomerular density were measured. Serum creatinine and urea were assessed preoperatively, 10 days after surgery, and before euthanasia. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among groups with regard to renal function. Renal weight and volume were similar among groups. Also, no difference was observed between the groups with regard to Vv[glom], MGV, and glomerular density, both when compared to its right control or when left kidneys were compared. CONCLUSIONS: Selective arterial clamping technique was neither superior nor inferior to main artery clamping.

Macro- and microstructural descriptions of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) liver.

The liver is an essential metabolically active organ, responsible for many vital life functions such as metabolism, synthesis, and storage. This study describes the macroscopic and microscopic zebrafish liver and its temporal changes during a period of 13 weeks. Forty-six adult zebrafish were used (46), of which 27 were females and were 19 males. Seven fish were euthanized initially for macroscopic evaluation and 3 fish were euthanized weekly for 13 weeks for microscopic evaluation. Routine histological technique was performed; the slides were stained with haematoxylin/eosin and periodic acid-Schiff. The volumetric (Vv(h)) and numerical (Nv(h)) densities of hepatocytes and vacuolation intensity were determined weekly. The liver was located in the coelomic cavity ventrally to the swim bladder, slightly brownish and divided into 3 hepatic lobes. Microscopically, it consisted of hepatocytes forming a muralium duplex around the sinusoids. The staining of the cytoplasm of hepatocytes was more eosinophilic and more basophilic in males and females, respectively. There was no formation of portal triads and phagocytic cells. The gallbladder had transitional epithelium, and the bile ducts had simple cuboidal epithelium. The volume and numerical density of hepatocytes during the 13 weeks was not statistically different, but these parameters displayed a positive correlation. The vacuolation was due to the presence of glycogen. The zebrafish liver has macro and micro structural particular features while, quantitatively, the volume and number of hepatocytes showed great capacity to respond to the physiological needs of the animal at the time.

Estudo morfométrico da trabécula septomarginal em cães / Morphometric study of trabecula septomarginalis in dogs

Foram estudados 30 corações de cães, com idade entre dois e seis anos e sem histórico de afecções cardíacas as trabéculas septomarginais com o objetivo de caracterizar as relações quanto ao número de inserções, dimensões, constituição e arranjo tecidual, visando fornecer subsídios para estudos da morfofisiologia e entendimento clínico-cirúrgico de problemas relacionados com essa estrutura. Os fragmentos das trabéculas foram submetidos a desidratação crescente em álcool etílico, diafanização em xilol, impregnação e inclusão em parafina. Posteriormente com uso do micrótomo manual (Leica RM 2125RT), cortados em espessura de 5µm e corados com Tricrômio de Mallory modificado. Fotomicrografias foram obtidas com auxílio de um microscópio óptico Axioscópio Zeissâ e as imagens então analisadas através do programa específico de morfometria KS-400 Zeissâ. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste ‘’U’’ de Mann-Whitney (p≤0,05) comparando-se os tecidos constituintes destas trabéculas. As trabéculas septomarginais, macroscopicamente variaram em três tipos de inserção, sendo do tipo simples (40%), dupla (33,33%) e ramificadas (26,67%). Microscopicamente as trabéculas septomarginais mostraram-se constituídas por tecido muscular, conjuntivo, de condução e vascular; A proporção média de tecido muscular estriado cardíaco foi 67,3% ± 6,79, tecido conjuntivo 27,1% ± 6,92 e a de miofibras de condução cardíaca 5,6% ± 2,77.

The trabecula septomarginalis of 30 dog hearts, aged between two and six years, with no history of heart conditions were studied, aiming to characterize the number of insertions, dimensions, constitution and tissue arrangement of trabeculae. The knowledge about this structure is a tool to be used in morphophysiology studies and cardiac clinic-surgical procedures. Trabecula fragments underwent dehydration with ethanol, diaphanization in xylene, impregnation and were embedded in paraffin. Subsequently, prepared tissue fragments were cut into 5-μm-thick slices using the manual microtome (Leica RM 2125RT) and stained with modified Mallory’s trichrome. Photomicrographs were obtained using a digital optical microscope Zeiss Axioscópioâ and the images were analyzed by the image analysis software Zeiss KS-400â. The data were subjected to Mann-Whitney U test. Macroscopically, the trabecula septomarginalis presented three types of insertion: simple (40%), double (33.33%) and ramified (26.67%). Microscopically, the trabeculae septomarginalis consisted of connective and striated muscle tissues, as well as cardiac conduction myofibers. The mean ratios plus standard deviations of connective tissue, striated muscle tissue and cardiac conduction myofibers were 27.1% ± 6.92, 67.3% ± 6.79 and 5.6% ± 2.47, respectively.

MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF TRABECULA SEPTOMARGINALIS IN DOGS. / Estudo morfométrico da trabécula septomarginal em cães

Foram estudados 30 corações de cães, com idade entre dois e seis anos e sem histórico de afecções cardíacas as trabéculas septomarginais com o objetivo de caracterizar as relações quanto ao número de inserções, dimensões, constituição e arranjo tecidual, visando fornecer subsídios para estudos da morfofisiologia e entendimento clínico-cirúrgico de problemas relacionados com essa estrutura. Os fragmentos das trabéculas foram submetidos a desidratação crescente em álcool etílico, diafanização em xilol, impregnação e inclusão em parafina. Posteriormente com uso do micrótomo manual (Leica RM 2125RT), cortados em espessura de 5µm e corados com Tricrômio de Mallory modificado. Fotomicrografias foram obtidas com auxílio de um microscópio óptico Axioscópio Zeissâ e as imagens então analisadas através do programa específico de morfometria KS-400 Zeissâ. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste ‘’U’’ de

Estudo morfométrico da trabécula septomarginal em cães / Morphometric study of trabecula septomarginalis in dogs

Foram estudados 30 corações de cães, com idade entre dois e seis anos e sem histórico de afecções cardíacas as trabéculas septomarginais com o objetivo de caracterizar as relações quanto ao número de inserções, dimensões, constituição e arranjo tecidual, visando fornecer subsídios para estudos da morfofisiologia e entendimento clínico-cirúrgico de problemas relacionados com essa estrutura. Os fragmentos das trabéculas foram submetidos a desidratação crescente em álcool etílico, diafanização em xilol, impregnação e inclusão em parafina. Posteriormente com uso do micrótomo manual (Leica RM 2125RT), cortados em espessura de 5µm e corados com Tricrômio de Mallory modificado. Fotomicrografias foram obtidas com auxílio de um microscópio óptico Axioscópio Zeissâ e as imagens então analisadas através do programa específico de morfometria KS-400 Zeissâ. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste ‘U de Mann-Whitney (p≤0,05) comparando-se os tecidos constituintes destas trabéculas. As trabéculas septomarginais, macroscopicamente variaram em três tipos de inserção, sendo do tipo simples (40%), dupla (33,33%) e ramificadas (26,67%). Microscopicamente as trabéculas septomarginais mostraram-se constituídas por tecido muscular, conjuntivo, de condução e vascular; A proporção média de tecido muscular estriado cardíaco foi 67,3% ± 6,79, tecido conjuntivo 27,1% ± 6,92 e a de miofibras de condução cardíaca 5,6% ± 2,77.(AU)

The trabecula septomarginalis of 30 dog hearts, aged between two and six years, with no history of heart conditions were studied, aiming to characterize the number of insertions, dimensions, constitution and tissue arrangement of trabeculae. The knowledge about this structure is a tool to be used in morphophysiology studies and cardiac clinic-surgical procedures. Trabecula fragments underwent dehydration with ethanol, diaphanization in xylene, impregnation and were embedded in paraffin. Subsequently, prepared tissue fragments were cut into 5-μm-thick slices using the manual microtome (Leica RM 2125RT) and stained with modified Mallorys trichrome. Photomicrographs were obtained using a digital optical microscope Zeiss Axioscópioâ and the images were analyzed by the image analysis software Zeiss KS-400â. The data were subjected to Mann-Whitney U test. Macroscopically, the trabecula septomarginalis presented three types of insertion: simple (40%), double (33.33%) and ramified (26.67%). Microscopically, the trabeculae septomarginalis consisted of connective and striated muscle tissues, as well as cardiac conduction myofibers. The mean ratios plus standard deviations of connective tissue, striated muscle tissue and cardiac conduction myofibers were 27.1% ± 6.92, 67.3% ± 6.79 and 5.6% ± 2.47, respectively.(AU)

MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF TRABECULA SEPTOMARGINALIS IN DOGS. / Estudo morfométrico da trabécula septomarginal em cães.

Foram estudados 30 corações de cães, com idade entre dois e seis anos e sem histórico de afecções cardíacas as trabéculas septomarginais com o objetivo de caracterizar as relações quanto ao número de inserções, dimensões, constituição e arranjo tecidual, visando fornecer subsídios para estudos da morfofisiologia e entendimento clínico-cirúrgico de problemas relacionados com essa estrutura. Os fragmentos das trabéculas foram submetidos a desidratação crescente em álcool etílico, diafanização em xilol, impregnação e inclusão em parafina. Posteriormente com uso do micrótomo manual (Leica RM 2125RT), cortados em espessura de 5µm e corados com Tricrômio de Mallory modificado. Fotomicrografias foram obtidas com auxílio de um microscópio óptico Axioscópio Zeissâ e as imagens então analisadas através do programa específico de morfometria KS-400 Zeissâ. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste ‘’U’’ de

Assessment of dexmedetomidine/ketamine anesthesia in golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anesthetic and cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine/ketamine combinations in golden-headed lion tamarins. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective blinded randomized study. ANIMALS: Six healthy golden-headed lion tamarins, three males and three females were studied (mean body weight +/- SD = 0.498 +/- 0.054 kg). METHODS: The animals were given one of the dexmedetomidine/ketamine combinations (0.005/10, 0.01/10, and 0.01/5 mg kg(-1) IM; treatments 5D/10K, 10D/10K, and 10D/5K, respectively) on three successive occasions. Time to sedation and recumbency, as well as anesthesia, standing, and walking times were recorded. Heart and respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, hemoglobin saturation, and rectal temperature were recorded during anesthesia. Sedation, muscle relaxation, and auditory response were evaluated after drug administration. RESULTS: Heart rate decreased after two combinations (10D/5K and 10D/10K). Respiratory rate and rectal temperature progressively decreased in all the treatments. Arterial blood pressures were maintained in 5D/10K and 10D/5K treatments and decreased after 10D/10K administration. There were no differences in sedation and recumbency time between the treatments, but anesthesia time was significantly longer in treatment 10D/10K (67.80 +/- 13.30 minutes) compared to treatments 10D/5K (44.54 +/- 8.25 minutes) and 5D/10K (30.60 +/- 6.80 minutes). Standing time was shorter in treatment 10D/10K (11.13 +/- 10.01 minutes) than in treatments 5D/10K (18.20 +/- 10.03 minutes) and 10D/5K (19.12 +/- 14.55 minutes), and walking time was longer in treatment 5D/10K (20.00 +/- 12.46 minutes) compared with treatments 10D/10K (16.00 +/- 3.43 minutes) and 10D/5K (12.40 +/- 5.02 minutes). Anesthetic quality was significantly better 5 and 15 minutes after treatments 10D/10K and 10D/5K than after treatment 5D/10K. Analgesia scores were higher after administration of 10D/10K than after the 5D/10K treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dexmedetomidine/ketamine is useful for chemical immobilization of golden-headed lion tamarins, but bradycardia and hypotension warrant close monitoring.