Variation in scale cortisol concentrations of a wild freshwater fish: Habitat quality or seasonal influences?

A significant body of literature suggests that aquatic pollutants can interfere with the physiological function of the fish hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, and eventually impair the ability to cope with subsequent stressors. For this reason, development of accurate techniques to assess fish stress responses have become of growing interest. Fish scales have been recently recognized as a biomaterial that accumulates cortisol, hence it can be potentially used to assess chronic stress in laboratory conditions. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the applicability of this novel method for cortisol assessment in fish within their natural environment. Catalan chub (Squalius laietanus) were sampled from two sites; a highly polluted and a less polluted (reference) site, in order to examine if habitat quality could potentially influence the cortisol deposition in scales. We also evaluated the seasonal variation in scale cortisol levels by sampling fish at three different time points during spring-summer 2014. In each sampling, blood was collected to complement the information provided by the scales. Our results demonstrated that blood and scale cortisol levels from individuals inhabiting the reference site were significantly correlated, therefore increasing the applicability of the method as a sensitive-individual measure of fish HPI axis activity, at least in non-polluted habitats. Since different environmental conditions could potentially alter the usefulness of the technique, results highlight that further validation is required to better interpret hormone fluctuations in fish scales. Scale cortisol concentrations were unaffected by habitat quality although fish from the polluted environment presented lower circulating cortisol levels. We detected a seasonal increase in scale cortisol values concurring with an energetically costly period for the species, supporting the idea that the analysis of cortisol in scales reveals changes in the HPI axis activity. Taken together, the present study suggests that cortisol levels in scales are more likely to be influenced by mid-term, intense energetically demanding periods rather than by long-term stressors. Measurement of cortisol in fish scales can open the possibility to study novel spatio-temporal contexts of interest, yet further research is required to better understand its biological relevance.

Hair cortisol and progesterone detection in dairy cattle: interrelation with physiological status and milk production.

Hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) and hair progesterone concentrations (HPCs) allow monitoring long-term retrospective steroid levels. However, there are still gaps in the knowledge of the mechanisms of steroid deposition in hair and its potential application in dairy cattle research. This study aimed to evaluate the potential uses of hair steroid determinations by studying the interrelations between HCC, HPC, physiological data from cows, and their milk production and quality. Cortisol and progesterone concentrations were analyzed in hair from 101 milking Holstein Friesian cows in a commercial farm. Physiological data were obtained from the 60 d prior to hair collection. Moreover, productive data from the month when hair was collected and the previous one were also obtained as well as at 124 d after hair sampling. Significant but weak correlations were found between HCC and HPC (r = 0.25, P < 0.0001) and between HPC and age (r = 0.06, P = 0.0133). High HCC were associated with low milk yields from the 2 previous months to hair sampling (P = 0.0396) and during the whole lactation (P < 0.0001). High HCC were also related to high somatic cell count (P = 0.0241). No effect of HCC on fat or protein content was detected. No significant correlations were detected between hair steroid concentrations and pregnancy status, days of gestation, parturition category (primiparous vs multiparous), number of lactations or days in milk. The relationship between physiological variables and HCC or HPC could depend on the duration of the time period over which hair accumulates hormones. Steroid concentrations in hair present high variability between individuals but are a potential tool for dairy cattle welfare and production research by providing a useful and practical tool for long-term steroid monitoring.

Impacto funcional del tratamiento con ranibizumab bajo una estrategia reactiva en pacientes con degeneración macular asociada a la edad exudativa neovascular / Functional impact of treatment with ranibizumab under a reactive strategy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

OBJETIVO: Conocer el porcentaje de recuperación funcional, según estrategia pro re nata (PRN) con inyecciones intravítreas con ranibizumab en pacientes con degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, unicéntrico. Se incluyó a pacientes con DMAE tratados con ranibizumab según estrategia PRN y seguimiento mínimo de 18 meses. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas y clínicas de la historia clínica. El porcentaje de recuperación de agudeza visual (AV) después de perder 5 o más letras fue calculado considerando la AV del mes anterior, así como la mejor AV previa al retratamiento. RESULTADOS: Se analizó a 128 pacientes. La media (DE) de seguimiento fue de 18,9 (2,3) meses; la media (DE) entre los primeros síntomas y el diagnóstico y entre la prescripción e inicio de tratamiento fue de 50,2 (57,4) y 10,9 (16,0) días, respectivamente. Ranibizumab solo fue prescrito en 108 pacientes tras una pérdida de 5 o más letras de AV. La media (DE) de recuperación de AV al considerar la AV de la última visita fue 70,3% (114,4). La media (DE) de recuperación de AV considerando la mejor AV antes del retratamiento fue de 43,5 (112,9), con un 59,4% de retratamientos que presentaron una recuperación de AV inferior al 75%, mientras que el 11,7% no presentaron recuperación de la AV. CONCLUSIONES: Una estrategia PRN con inyecciones intravítreas de ranibizumab podría no ser lo suficientemente efectiva en términos de mantenimiento o recuperación de AV en los casos de DMAE a largo plazo, debido a la pérdida irreversible de AV

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the functional recovery using a pro re nata (PRN) dosing strategy with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, retrospective, single-centre study, was conducted on patients with neovascular AMD managed with a PRN strategy with ranibizumab, and were followed-up for a minimum of 18 months. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from medical records. The percentage of visual acuity (VA) recovered after losing 5 or more letters was calculated taking into account the previous visit, as well as considering the best VA recorded prior to the retreament. RESULTS: The analysis included 128 patients. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 18.9 (2.3) months. The mean (SD) elapsed days between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, and between prescription and administration of treatment was 50.2 (57.4) and 10.9 (16.0), respectively. Only 108 patients were prescribed ranibizumab after losing 5 or more letters of VA. The mean (SD) VA recovery compared to the previous VA was 70.3% (114.4). On the other hand, the mean (SD) VA recovery when considering the best VA registered before the retreatment was 43.5% (112.9), with 59.4% of re-treatments having a VA recovery below 75%, and with 11.7% not presenting any VA recovery. CONCLUSIONS: A PRN dosing strategy with intravitreal ranibizumab for neovascular AMD may not be efficient in preserving and/or recovering VA in the long-term, due to a cumulative irreversible VA loss

Acute ACTH-induced elevations of circulating cortisol do not affect hair cortisol concentrations in calves.

In recent times, the detection of cortisol in hair is intended to be used as an animal-based indicator for the assessment of chronic stress. However, the relationship between the ability to report average values of long-term circulating cortisol concentrations and the sensitivity to acute peaks of cortisol is still unclear. To gain insight into this relationship, 24 Holstein-Friesian bull calves under the same management conditions were used in this study. Two injections of ACTH (at D0 and D7) were administrated to twelve animals with the aim to create two acute increases of serum cortisol concentrations. Blood samples were taken in order to determine the duration of serum cortisol peaks and to confirm a mediated response by the administration of ACTH. Cortisol concentrations from 14-day-old white hair samples collected from forehead and hip were analysed separately by EIA and compared with those from the control group. Serum cortisol analyses revealed an acute increase of cortisol concentrations for approximately three hours after each ACTH administration. Concentrations of hair cortisol from forehead and hip locations showed no differences between ACTH-administrated and control animals. Hair cortisol concentrations from 14-day old samples were not altered by two acute elevations of serum cortisol suggesting that hair cortisol is not masked by short and non-recurrent moments of stress. These results are a step forward in the validation of hair cortisol detection as a robust integrative measure of serum cortisol concentrations from an extended period of time.

Functional impact of treatment with ranibizumab under a reactive strategy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. / Impacto funcional del tratamiento con ranibizumab bajo una estrategia reactiva en pacientes con degeneración macular asociada a la edad exudativa neovascular.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the functional recovery using a pro re nata (PRN) dosing strategy with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, retrospective, single-centre study, was conducted on patients with neovascular AMD managed with a PRN strategy with ranibizumab, and were followed-up for a minimum of 18 months. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from medical records. The percentage of visual acuity (VA) recovered after losing 5 or more letters was calculated taking into account the previous visit, as well as considering the best VA recorded prior to the retreament. RESULTS: The analysis included 128 patients. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 18.9 (2.3) months. The mean (SD) elapsed days between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, and between prescription and administration of treatment was 50.2 (57.4) and 10.9 (16.0), respectively. Only 108 patients were prescribed ranibizumab after losing 5 or more letters of VA. The mean (SD) VA recovery compared to the previous VA was 70.3% (114.4). On the other hand, the mean (SD) VA recovery when considering the best VA registered before the retreatment was 43.5% (112.9), with 59.4% of re-treatments having a VA recovery below 75%, and with 11.7% not presenting any VA recovery. CONCLUSIONS: A PRN dosing strategy with intravitreal ranibizumab for neovascular AMD may not be efficient in preserving and/or recovering VA in the long-term, due to a cumulative irreversible VA loss.

Health-related quality of life in allergic rhinitis: comparing the short form ESPRINT-15 and MiniRQLQ questionnaires.

BACKGROUND: We compared the psychometric properties of the ESPRINT-15, the short form of a new Spanish instrument to measure health-related quality of life in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients, with those of the Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ). METHODS: The questionnaires were compared in Spanish patients with intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) or persistent AR in a prospective, observational study. Floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC), convergent and known groups validity, and sensitivity to change (standardized response means; SRMs) were compared. RESULTS: In terms of content, while the MiniRQLQ has a dimension covering practical problems and places more emphasis on symptoms, the ESPRINT-15 has two dimensions (Sleep and Psychological impact) which are not included in the MiniRQLQ. In the validation study, 400 patients were included and 59% of the sample had persistent AR. There were no significant floor or ceiling effects on any dimension on either questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha values for the ESPRINT-15 and MiniRQLQ overall scores were 0.92 and 0.90, respectively. In 48 clinically stable patients, ICCs were 0.80 and 0.77, respectively. Both instruments discriminated between patients with IAR and persistent AR. Correlations with symptom scores and generic measures were moderate to strong. SRMs for overall scores and individual dimensions on the two questionnaires in the 197 patients reporting a change in health status ranged from 0.7 to 1.3. CONCLUSIONS: Both questionnaires performed well in psychometric terms. The ESPRINT-15 is particularly recommended for use in Spanish-speaking populations.