Use of thermography in the long-term evaluation of scrotal surface temperature and its impact on seminal quality in stallions.

Scrotal surface thermography is a non-invasive method for assessing testicular thermoregulation in stallions; however, few studies have explored the application of this technique concerning the thermal physiology of equine reproductive systems. This study aimed to evaluate the consistency of testicular thermoregulation in stallions over a year using thermography to measure the scrotal surface temperature (SST). Moreover, we assessed the best region for measuring the surface body temperature compared with the SST. Ten light-breed stallions were used in the experiment. Thermographic images of the scrotal and body surfaces (neck and abdomen) were captured. Fresh, cooled and frozen-thawed semen samples were evaluated to verify the impact of thermoregulation on semen quality. Testicular thermoregulation was maintained throughout the year in stallions amidst changes in the external temperature, as evidenced by the weak correlation between the SST and ambient temperature. A lower correlation was observed between the environmental temperature and body surface temperature (BTS) obtained from the abdomen (BTS-A; R = .4772; p < .0001) than with that obtained from the neck (BTS-N; R = .7259; p < .0001). Moreover, both BTS-A and SST were simultaneously captured in a single image. The consistent quality of the fresh, cooled and frozen semen suggests efficient thermoregulation in stallions throughout the year.

High Dialysate Calcium Concentration is Associated with Worsening Left Ventricular Function.

Dialysate calcium concentration (d[Ca]) might have a cardiovascular impact in patients on haemodialysis (HD) since a higher d[Ca] determines better hemodynamic tolerability. We have assessed the influence of d[Ca] on global longitudinal strain (GLS) by two-dimensional echocardiography using speckle-tracking imaging before and in the last hour of HD. This is an observational crossover study using d[Ca] 1.75 mmol/L and 1.25 mmol/L. Ultrafiltration was the same between interventions; patients aged 44 ± 13 years (N = 19). The 1.75 mmol/L d[Ca] was associated with lighter drop of blood pressure. Post HD serum total calcium was higher with d[Ca] 1.75 than with 1.25 mmol/L (11.5 ± 0.8 vs. 9.1 ± 0.5 mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.01). In almost all segments strain values were significantly worse in the peak HD with 1.75 mmol/L d[Ca] than with 1.25 mmol/L d[Ca]. GLS decreased from -19.8 ± 3.7% at baseline to -17.3 ± 2.9% and -16.1 ± 2.6% with 1.25 d[Ca] and 1.75 d[Ca] mmol/L, respectively (p < 0.05 for both d[Ca] vs. baseline and 1.25 d[Ca] vs. 1.75 d[Ca] mmol/L). Factors associated with a worse GLS included transferrin, C-reactive protein, weight lost, and post dialysis serum total calcium. We concluded that d[Ca] of 1.75 mmol/L was associated with higher post dialysis serum calcium, which contributed to a worse ventricular performance. Whether this finding would lead to myocardial stunning needs further investigation.

Study of genetic variability in pigs after the traditional breeding program.

Molecular markers are tools used to improve genetic gains. The objective of this study was to analyze the security of alleles of molecular marker genes for characteristics of economic interest in a pure population of pigs. After the extraction of DNA from the hair of 272 Large White matrices, the allele and genotype frequency of single nucleotide polymorphism was performed using the ARMS-PCR Multiplex technique in the DGAT1, LEPR, H-FABP, MC4R, and SREBF1 genes using RFLP-PCR for the GH gene. After capillary electrophoresis in an automated DNA sequencing of the DGAT1, LEPR, H-FABP, and SREBF1 genes, no polymorphisms were found. Only the MC4R marker presented 100% heterozygosity. For the GH gene, 209 of the initial population samples were genotyped. The PCR product (605 bp) was digested with the restriction enzyme DdeI, with fragments being of 335, 148, and 122 bp for the D1 allele and 457 and 148 bp for the D2 allele. The genotypic frequency obtained of D1D2 was 88% and of D2D2 was 22%. The D1 allele presented a frequency of 11% and the D2 allele of 89%. The high intensity of selection for commercial breeds justifies the absence or the low number of polymorphisms for the genes studied.

Utilização da técnica in vitro semiautomática de produção de gases na avaliação da fermentação microbiana do ceco de suínos / Use of the semi-automatic in vitro gas production technique for the evaluation of swine cecal microbial fermentation

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o os padrões de fermentação microbiana do ceco de suínos, utilizando-se um modelo aplicado na técnica in vitro de produção de gases para ruminantes. Três tipos de inóculo foram utilizados: ceco de suínos criados ao ar livre (CSF), ceco de suínos criados confinados (CSC) e líquido ruminal de bovino (LRB). Os substratos utilizados derivaram de uma dieta de suínos à base de farelo de soja e de grãos de milho, atendendo as exigências nutricionais dos suínos. Para composição dos substratos, foram estabelecidos diferentes níveis de substituição da dieta basal pela torta da amêndoa da Acrocomia aculeata (AA), coproduto da produção do biodiesel, sendo: BAS - 100% de dieta basal; M10 - 90% de dieta basal e 10% AA; M20 - 80% de dieta basal e 20% AA e o TF - feno de Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.). A produção de gases foi avaliada nos tempos zero, três, seis, nove, 12, 16, 24, 48, 72 e 96 horas após a incubação. Foram analisados o potencial máximo de produção de gás (A) e o tempo de colonização (L). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 4 x 3. Os dados de A e L foram submetidos à análise de variância, e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5%. Comparando os inóculos para A (mL/gMS), LRB e CSF apresentaram valores similares, diferindo apenas para TF. O tempo de colonização (L) entre inóculos, o CSC e o CSF apresentaram os menores tempos de colonização quando a ração foi BAS. Com os substratos M10 e M20, o inóculo LRB apresentou o menor tempo, CSF o maior tempo e CSC não diferiu de ambos. Não houve diferença significativa entre os inóculos para o substrato TF. A técnica de produção de gases utilizada para o ceco de suínos apresentou resultados semelhantes aos encontrados para ruminantes. O modelo matemático usado foi adequado para descrever a curva de fermentação no ceco de suínos, mostrando semelhanças entre as microbiotas do ceco e do rúmen.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the microbial fermentation patterns of the pig ceca using the technique of in vitro gas production for ruminants. Three types of inoculums were used: swine ceca raised in a free range system (CSF), swine ceca raised in a conventional confined system (CSC) and bovine rumen fluid (LRB). The substrates used were derived from pig's diet with soybean meal and corn grits, according to the nutritional requirements of swine. The substrates were composed by different set levels of substitution of basal diet by meal almond Acrocomia aculeata (AA), as: BAS - 100% of basal diet; M10 - 90% of basal diet and 10% AA (M10); M20 - 80% of basal diet and 20% AA (M20) and TF - Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.).The gas production was evaluated at times 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after incubation. The study analyzed the maximum potential of gas production (A) and lag time (L). The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement. The A and L data were submitted to analysis of variance and the averages compared by Tukey 5% test. Comparing the inoculum for A (ml / gDM), LRB, and CS, they showed similar values, differing only for TF. The lag time (L) between inoculum, the CSC and CSF had the lowest colonization times when the meal was BAS. With M10 and M20 substrates, the LRB inoculum showed the lowest time, CSF had the longest time and CSC did not differ from both. There was no significant difference between the inoculum for TF substrate. The gas production technique used for the ceca of pigs showed similar results to those for ruminants. The mathematical model used was adequate to describe the fermentation curve in the ceca of pigs, showing similarities between the microbiota of the ceca and the rumen.(AU)

"Permethrin chronic exposure alters motor coordination in rats: effect of calcium supplementation and amlodipine".

Recently was observed that pyrethroids decrease motor coordination and that calcium channels can be important targets for this effect. To contribute with this observation, this work studied the motor coordination and exploration (using hole-board apparatus), and locomotion (using open-field apparatus) of rats exposed to following treatments: permethrin (PM), PM plus calcium gluconate (CG) and PM plus amlodipine (AML). The results obtained show that CG or AML alone not changed the motor coordination while PM decreases it. CG kept the effect of permethrin; AML, however, decreased the values of permethrin to the control. Locomotor activity and exploration, which could confound results of motor coordination, were not modified by treatments. The concentration of PM in brain tissue was increased by the CG and AML. The neurosomatic index (weight brain/body weight) was increased by the PM and PM+CG. In conclusion, the combined results here obtained indicates that the calcium ion and the channels in which it is involved can be important targets for the toxic effect of pyrethroid insecticide permethrin on motor nerve activity of rats.

Ru(II)-based antimicrobials: looking beyond organic drugs.

This review deals with the bactericidal, anti-fungal and even anti-parasitary properties of ruthenium complexes, both inorganic and organometallic, establishing comparisons between these and the available commercial drugs. The description is mostly composed of results found in the literature of the past two decades, complemented with relevant results from our group's research on antimicrobial ruthenium complexes. The complexes are divided into five groups according to the kind of ligands, geometry and chemical nature. The first group comprises ruthenium octahedral complexes with Schiff bases, the most well explored kind of ruthenium antimicrobials. The second group comprises complexes with planar ligands and an overall more flattened geometry, designed for DNA intercalation. In the following two groups, ruthenium complexes feature a particular functionality, which is, in one case, the presence of the PTA ligand for higher solubility in water, and, in the second, the mimicry of an active organic drug. Finally, a small section presents the most recent results on supramolecular antimicrobials comprising ruthenium, in particular a polymer and a cyclodextrin adduct.

New roles for innate immune response in acute and chronic kidney injuries.

The innate immune system plays an important role as a first response to tissue injury. This first response is carried out via germline-encoded receptors. They can recognize exogenous Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns and endogenous Dangers-Associated Molecular Patterns. The Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) family is well-studied, but more recently another family in the cytoplasmic compartment, called nod-like receptor (NLR), was discovered. In addition to being present in inflammatory cells, these receptors are widely distributed in various cell types, including renal tissue, where these receptors have an important role in triggering the inflammatory response during renal diseases. This review summarizes the present data regarding the role of TLRs and NLRs in the course and development of various kidney pathologies.

Evaluation of post-surgical cognitive function and protein fingerprints in the cerebro-spinal fluid utilizing surface-enhanced laser Desorption/Ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) after coronary artery bypass grafting: review of proteomic analytic tools and introducing a new syndrome.

Cognitive dysfunction following surgery is a common complication, which increases the incidence of other co-morbid conditions, hospital and health-care costs. The reported rate of the occurrence of post-operative cognitive decline varies with different studies, depending on population profile, type of surgery, definition of cognitive disorder and detection methods, design of study, etc. It remains unclear whether these psychiatric signs and symptoms are direct results of the effects of surgery or general anesthesia. Nonetheless they are more frequent after cardiac surgery and are likely to be multi-factorial, but the patho-mechanisms are not yet fully characterized. This communication provides a synopsis of proteomics tools and delineates novel SELDI-TOF results to evaluate biomarkers in this regard. Presented for the first time is a classification of the clinically relevant forms of post-operative cognitive decline with the advent of a novel subclass.

Some arachnidan peptides with potential medical application

The search for new active drugs that can alleviate or cure different diseases is a constant challenge to researchers in the biological area and to the pharmaceutical industry. Historically, research has focused on the study of substances from plants. More recently, however, animal venoms have been attracting attention and studies have been successful in addressing treatment of accidents. Furthermore, venoms and their toxins have been considered good tools for prospecting for new active drugs or models for new therapeutic drugs. In this review, we discuss some possibilities of using different toxins, especially those from arachnid venoms, which have shown some potential application in diseases involving pain, hypertension, epilepsy and erectile dysfunction. A new generation of drugs is likely to emerge from peptides, including those found in animal venoms.

PIT1 gene polymorphism in Pietrain and Large White pigs after divergent selection.

We examined the polymorphisms in the PIT1 gene of 103 pigs and compared their frequencies in the maternal and paternal lineages of the Pietrain and Large White breeds, which have undergone divergent selection for over 30 years. DNA samples extracted from the blood of these animals were amplified by PCR and genotyped by RFLP, using the restriction enzyme RsaI. The data were analyzed with the chi-square test. We found that 57.3% of the animals were genotype AB, among which 26.2% were of the Large White paternal lineage, 18.5% the Pietrain paternal lineage and 12.6% the Pietrain maternal lineage. The AA genotype appeared in 20.4%, of which 7.8% were Large White, 4.8% the Pietrain paternal lineage and 7.8% the Pietrain maternal lineage. BB was observed in 22.3% (6.8% were of the Large White paternal lineage, 9.7% of the Pietrain paternal lineage and 5.8% of the Pietrain maternal lineage). The allele frequencies were 49.0% A and 51.0% B allele. When we examined the Pietrain maternal and paternal lineages, we found that the PIT1 gene had been fixed in the paternal lineage, suggesting that the B allele is associated with low body fat and improved muscle development when compared to the maternal lineage. However, no significant differences were found between the Pietrain and Large White paternal lineages.

Obese gene polymorphism in Pietrain and Large White pigs after a divergent selection.

The aim of the present study was to identify polymorphisms in the leptin gene of 112 pigs and compare the maternal and paternal lineage of Pietrain and Large White breeds that underwent a divergent selection for over 30 years. DNA samples extracted from the blood of these animals were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism using the restriction enzyme HinfI. The data were statistically analyzed by the chi-square test. The results showed that 87.5% of the animals were genotype TT, where 31.25% were Large White paternal lineage, 31.25% were Pietrain paternal lineage and 25% were Pietrain maternal lineage. The TC genotype appeared in 12.5%, where 10% were Large White, 0.5% were Pietrain paternal lineage and 2% were of the same maternal lineage breed; CC was not observed. As for the allele frequency, 93.75% of the T and 6.25% of the C allele were found. In Pietrain maternal and paternal lineages, it could not be determined that the Obese gene had been fixed in the maternal lineage. However, in the Pietrain and Large White paternal lineages there was a statistically significant difference, suggesting that the C allele is associated with growth and daily weight gain and that the low frequency of C in the Pietrain lineage is related to low rate of body fat, a typical feature of this breed.

Tityus serrulatus Hypotensins: a new family of peptides from scorpion venom.

Using a proteomic approach, a new structural family of peptides was put in evidence in the venom of the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus. Tityus serrulatus Hypotensins (TsHpt) are random-coiled linear peptides and have a similar bradykinin-potentiating peptide (BPP) amino acid signature. TsHpt-I (2.7kDa), the first member of this family, was able to potentiate the hypotensive effects of bradykinin (BK) in normotensive rats. Using the C-terminal of this peptide as a template, a synthetic analog peptide (TsHpt-I([17-25])) was designed to held the BK-potentiating effect. A relevant hypotensive effect, independent on BK, was also observed on both TsHpt (native and synthetic). To better evaluate this hypotensive effect, we examined the vasorelaxation of aortic rings from male Wistar rats and the peptides were able to induce endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation dependent on NO release. Both TsHpt could not inhibit ACE activity. These peptides appear to exert their anti-hypertensive effect through NO-dependent and ACE-independent mechanisms.

Clinical and radiographic features of peritumoral infarction following resection of glioblastoma.

Focal areas of restricted diffusion adjacent to high-grade glioma resection cavities were detected in 70% of patients on immediate postoperative MRI studies. Follow-up studies demonstrated cystic encephalomalacia in 91% of these foci, suggesting the presence of infarction, and the infarcted tissue demonstrated enhancement in 43% of cases. New postoperative deficits correlated well with the anatomic region of infarction in six patients. Enhancement in perioperative infarcts can mimic tumor progression on follow-up imaging studies.

Improved detection of metastatic melanoma by T2*-weighted imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The imaging features of metastatic melanomas are distinctive due to the presence of melanin and the propensity for hemorrhage. Both hemorrhage and melanin can produce T1-weighted hyperintensity and T2*-weighted signal intensity loss. We hypothesized that T2*-weighted images would improve detection of metastatic melanoma. METHODS: The T2* and T1 characteristics of 120 newly detected metastatic brain lesions from 31 patients with malignant melanoma were compared with those of 120 brain metastases from 23 patients with lung cancer. RESULTS: Melanoma metastases were 5 times more likely to demonstrate prominent T2*-related signal intensity loss (susceptibility effect) than were lung metastases (42% vs 8%; P < .01), and 4.5 times more likely to demonstrate T1 hyperintensity (55% vs 12%; P < .01). Patients with melanoma had lesions that were either hypointense on T2*-weighted images, hyperintense on T1 images, or both, in 71% (85/120), compared with 19% (23/120) of lung carcinoma metastases (P < .01). Melanoma lesions were 16 times more likely than lung cancer lesions to show combined T2* related signal intensity loss and T1 hyperintensity (P < .01). Remarkably, 8 melanoma lesions (7%) in 3 patients were detectable principally on the T2*-weighted sequences, whereas no lung cancer lesion was detected solely on susceptibility images. We found a direct correlation between melanin content and T1 hyperintensity but no correlation between T2* intensity and melanin. CONCLUSION: T2*-weighted images improve lesion detection in patients with melanoma metastases, and in conjunction with T1-weighted sequences, can suggest melanoma as the etiology of an intracranial mass. This sequence should be employed for evaluation of possible brain metastasis in patients without a known primary malignancy and in studies for melanoma staging.