Identification of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Differentially Expressed Genes Favoring Soybean Meal Tolerance in Higher-Growth Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Genetic variability within the same fish species could confer soybean meal (SBM) tolerance in some individuals, thus favoring growth. This study investigates the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) favoring SBM tolerance in higher-growth zebrafish (Danio rerio). In a previous work, nineteen families of zebrafish were fed a fish meal diet (100FM control diet) or SBM-based diets supplemented with saponin (50SBM + 2SPN-experimental diet), from juvenile to adult stages. Individuals were selected from families with a genotype-by-environment interaction higher (170 ± 18 mg) or lower (76 ± 10 mg) weight gain on 50SBM + 2SPN in relation to 100FM. Intestinal transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq revealed six hundred and sixty-five differentially expressed genes in higher-growth fish fed 50SBM + 2SPN diet. In this work, using these results, 47 SNPs in DEGs were selected. These SNPs were genotyped by Sequenom in 340 zebrafish that were fed with a 50SBM + 2SPN diet or with 100FM diet. Marker-trait analysis revealed 4 SNPs associated with growth in 3 immunity-related genes (aif1l, arid3c, and cst14b.2) in response to the 50SBM + 2SPN diet (p-value < 0.05). Two SNPs belonging to aif1l y arid3c produce a positive (+19 mg) and negative (-26 mg) effect on fish growth, respectively. These SNPs can be used as markers to improve the early selection of tolerant fish to SBM diet or other plant-based diets. These genes can be used as biomarkers to identify SNPs in commercial fish, thus contributing to the aquaculture sustainability.

Hydrogel Applicability for the Industrial Effluent Treatment: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis.

In recent decades, hydrogels, as adsorption materials, have received important attention due to their characteristics and properties, such as mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, swellability, and stimuli sensitivity. In the actual framework of sustainable development, it has been imperative to develop practical studies of hydrogels in the treatment of actual industrial effluents. Accordingly, the current work has, as its objective, to make evident hydrogels' applicability in the treatment of actual industrial effluents. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis and systematic review based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method were conducted. The relevant articles were selected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Some important findings were that: (1) China is the leading country when it comes to hydrogel application in actual industrial effluents, (2) the motor studies are focalized on the treatment of wastewater by hydrogels, (3) the fixed-bed columns are suitable unit equipment for the treatment of industrial effluents of using hydrogels, and (4) the hydrogels show excellent adsorption capacities of ion and dye contaminants present in industrial effluents. In summary, since the implementation of sustainable development in 2015, the progress of practical hydrogel applications in the treatment of industrial effluent has been receiving more attention, and the selected studies demonstrate the implementation viability of these materials.

Undergraduate dental students and their potential role in disaster victim identification procedures: A scoping review under a Chilean perspective.

BACKGROUND: A mass fatality incident is an unexpected event that can cause the death of many people, which has motivated careful analysis and development of appropriate strategies for planning and response with all available resources. As these events involve multiple victims, their identities must be confirmed using the highest possible quality standards. Forensic Odontology (FO) has proven to be a scientific resource for disaster victim identification (DVI) procedures; however, it is highly dependent on the proper management not only of material resources but also of human resources. Chile is a country recognised as prone to natural disasters, but an insufficient number of forensic odontologists has been reported. The aim of the study was to review the literature on a dental undergraduate (UG) student's potential value in a DVI process. METHODOLOGY: A scoping review was performed using a specific search strategy in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO and EBSCO databases. RESULTS: The search identified 27 articles in which the basic dental degree, the necessary training and the need for human resources are variables considered in different priorities by those articles. DISCUSSION: It is vital to assess the local needs of Chile based on its UGs, considering that FO is an underestimated resource that should be included early on in dental curriculums. Furthermore, it should align with public policies to ensure viability and inclusion in standardised protocols. CONCLUSION: Although there is "potential" usage of UG dental students in DVI is not ideal, circumstances will dictate their use. The better trained they are as students, the more valuable their "potential" contribution will be.

A Recombinant Turkey Herpesvirus Expressing the F Protein of Newcastle Disease Virus Genotype XII Generated by NHEJ-CRISPR/Cas9 and Cre-LoxP Systems Confers Protection against Genotype XII Challenge in Chickens.

In this study, we developed a new recombinant virus rHVT-F using a Turkey herpesvirus (HVT) vector, expressing the fusion (F) protein of the genotype XII Newcastle disease virus (NDV) circulating in Peru. We evaluated the viral shedding and efficacy against the NDV genotype XII challenge in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. The F protein expression cassette was inserted in the unique long (UL) UL45-UL46 intergenic locus of the HVT genome by utilizing a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 gene-editing technology via a non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair pathway. The rHVT-F virus, which expressed the F protein stably in vitro and in vivo, showed similar growth kinetics to the wild-type HVT (wtHVT) virus. The F protein expression of the rHVT-F virus was detected by an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), Western blotting, and a flow cytometry assay. The presence of an NDV-specific IgY antibody was detected in serum samples by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in SPF chickens vaccinated with the rHVT-F virus. In the challenge experiment, the rHVT-F vaccine fully protects a high, and significantly reduced, virus shedding in oral at 5 days post-challenge (dpc). In conclusion, this new rHVT-F vaccine candidate is capable of fully protecting SPF chickens against the genotype XII challenge.

Intestinal Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Enrichment of Genes Associated with Immune and Lipid Mechanisms, Favoring Soybean Meal Tolerance in High-Growth Zebrafish (Danio Rerio).

The molecular mechanisms underlying fish tolerance to soybean meal (SBM) remain unclear. Identifying these mechanisms would be beneficial, as this trait favors growth. Two fish replicates from 19 experimental families were fed fishmeal-(100FM) or SBM-based diets supplemented with saponin (50SBM + 2SPN) from juvenile to adult stages. Individuals were selected from families with a genotype-by-environment interaction higher (HG-50SBM + 2SPN, 170 ± 18 mg) or lower (LG-50SBM + 2SPN, 76 ± 10 mg) weight gain on 50SBM + 2SPN for intestinal transcriptomic analysis. A histological evaluation confirmed middle intestinal inflammation in the LG- vs. HG-50SBM + 2SPN group. Enrichment analysis of 665 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified pathways associated with immunity and lipid metabolism. Genes linked to intestinal immunity were downregulated in HG fish (mpx, cxcr3.2, cftr, irg1l, itln2, sgk1, nup61l, il22), likely dampening inflammatory responses. Conversely, genes involved in retinol signaling were upregulated (rbp4, stra6, nr2f5), potentially favoring growth by suppressing insulin responses. Genes associated with lipid metabolism were upregulated, including key components of the SREBP (mbtps1, elov5l, elov6l) and cholesterol catabolism (cyp46a1), as well as the downregulation of cyp7a1. These results strongly suggest that transcriptomic changes in lipid metabolism mediate SBM tolerance. Genotypic variations in DEGs may become biomarkers for improving early selection of fish tolerant to SMB or others plant-based diets.

Cecal microbiome composition and metabolic function in probiotic treated broilers.

Probiotics have become increasingly popular in the poultry industry as a promising nutritional intervention to promote the modulation of intestinal microbial communities and their metabolic activities as a means of improving health and performance. This study aimed to determine the influence of different probiotic formulations on the taxonomic and metabolic profiling of cecal microbial communities, as well as to define associations between cecal microbiota and growth parameters in 21 and 42-day-old broilers. Probiotics investigated included a synbiotic (SYNBIO), a yeast-based probiotic (YEAST), and three single-strain formulations of spore-forming Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (SINGLE1), B. subtilis (SINGLE2) and B. licheniformis (SINGLE3). Dietary inclusion of SYNBIO, YEAST, SINGLE2, and SINGLE3 into the diets supported a significant stimulation of BW and BWG by 7 days of age. Besides, SYNBIO reduced the overall mortality rate by 42d (p<0.05). No significant variation was observed among different probiotic-based formulations for cecal microbiota composition. However, there was a treatment-specific effect on the metabolic profiles, with a particular beneficial metabolic adaptation by the microbiota when supplemented by SYNBIO and SINGLE2. Furthermore, the population of Lactobacillales was identified to be strongly associated with lower Enterobacteriales colonization, higher BW means, and lower mortality rate of growing broilers. Overall, the results emphasize that probiotic supplementation may enhance the microbial energy metabolism in the ceca of young broilers.

Comparative effectiveness of probiotic-based formulations on cecal microbiota modulation in broilers.

The potential of probiotics to manipulate the intestinal microbial ecosystem toward commensal bacteria growth offers great opportunity for enhancing health and performance in poultry. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of five probiotic-based formulations in modulating cecal microbiota in broilers at 21 and 42 days of age. Probiotics investigated included a synbiotic (SYNBIO), a yeast (YEAST), and three single-strain formulations of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (SINGLE1), B. subtilis (SINGLE2) and B. licheniformis (SINGLE3). Alpha-diversity analyses showed that cecal microbiota of SINGLE1, SINGLE2, and YEAST had low diversity compared to the control diet with no feed additive (CON) at 21d. At the same age, weighted Unifrac distance measure showed significant differences between samples from SYNBIO and CON (P = 0.02). However, by analyzing principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) with unweighted Unifrac, there was no evidence of clustering between CON and probiotic treatments. By 42d, there were no differences in alpha or beta-diversity in the microbiota of probiotic treatments compared to CON. Similarly, taxonomic microbial profiling did not show major changes in cecal microbial taxa. In conclusion, not all probiotic-based formulations tested had a core benefit on the modulation of microbiota. However, based on the quantitative beta diversity results, SYNBIO greatly influenced the cecal microbial community structure attributable to transient variations in relative taxon abundance.

Effects of Alternative Administration Programs of a Synbiotic Supplement on Broiler Performance, Foot Pad Dermatitis, Caecal Microbiota, and Blood Metabolites.

This research investigated the effects of different synbiotic administration programs on broiler productive performance and foot pad dermatitis (FPD). Molecular insights on caecal microbiota and plasma metabolomics were also performed. - A total of 1000 one-day-old male chicks were grouped by the synbiotic treatment. The synbiotic was either sprayed as gel droplets onto newly hatched chicks at the hatchery (100 g/10,000 birds) or supplemented in-feed during the entire rearing period (1000, 500, and 250 g/ton according to feeding phase), or both. Only the treatments' combination produced significant results in comparison with the control group (untreated), improving feed conversion ratio from 14 to 29 d and in the overall period of the trial (1.570 vs. 1.509 and 1.643 vs. 1.596, respectively; p < 0.05) while lowering FPD occurrence at slaughter (17% vs. 5%; p < 0.05). These findings can be related to significant variations of caecal microbiota, like higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (with favorable implications for host's energy-harvesting potential from the diet) and more beneficial microbial consortium presumably sustaining eubiosis. Overall, these results indicate that administering synbiotics through gel droplets at the hatchery combined to in-feed supplementation for the whole growing cycle positively affects broiler feed efficiency and welfare.

Apuntes sobre analgesia obstétrica (Analgesia obstétrica en la época victoriana) / Notes on obstetric analgesia (obstetric analgesia in the victorian age)

Este artículo hace mención a los prejuicios y conceptos equivocados en relación a la salud reproductiva y del conocimiento científico del embarazo y parto hasta principios del siglo XIX, de acuerdo a la sociedad patriarcal vigente hasta entonces. Desde este punto se hace referencia al desarrollo de la analgesia quirúrgica y particularmente a la del alivio del dolor del trabajo de parto, concepto impensable hasta entonces (la maldición de Eva). Se enfatiza el inmenso impacto mediático del hecho fortuito en relación al octavo parto de nadie menos que la Reina Victoria del Reino Unido, que recibió con éxito cloroformo en su octavo parto, lo que contribuyó a la amplia difusión de la práctica.

This article considers the prejudices and erroneous concepts in reproductive health and scientific knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth from the beginning of the nineteenth century. It refers to the development of surgical anesthesia and particularly pain relief in labor, a previously unknown concept (Eve´s curse). We emphasize the tremendous impact of the example of none other than Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom who helped spread the practice when she received chloroform when giving birth for the eighth time.

The influence of ionic strength and mixing ratio on the colloidal stability of PDAC/PSS polyelectrolyte complexes.

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) form by mixing polycation and polyanion solutions together, and have been explored for a variety of applications. One challenge for PEC processing and application is that under certain conditions the as-formed PECs aggregate and precipitate out of suspension over the course of minutes to days. This aggregation is governed by several factors such as electrostatic repulsion, van der Waals attractions, and hydrophobic interactions. In this work, we explore the boundary between colloidally stable and unstable complexes as it is influenced by polycation/polyanion mixing ratio and ionic strength. The polymers examined are poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). Physical properties such as turbidity, hydrodynamic size, and zeta potential are investigated upon complex formation. We also perform detailed molecular dynamics simulations to examine the structure and effective charge distribution of the PECs at varying mixing ratios and salt concentrations to support the experimental findings. The results suggest that the colloidally stable/unstable boundary possibly marks the screening effects from added salt, resulting in weakly charged complexes that aggregate. At higher salt concentrations, the complexes initially form and then gradually dissolve into solution.

stg fimbrial operon from S. Typhi STH2370 contributes to association and cell disruption of epithelial and macrophage-like cells.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) stg operon, encoding a chaperone/usher fimbria (CU), contributes to an increased adherence to human epithelial cells. However, one report suggests that the presence of the Stg fimbria impairs the monocyte--bacteria association, as deduced by the lower level of invasion to macrophage-like cells observed when the stg fimbrial cluster was overexpressed. Nevertheless, since other CU fimbrial structures increase the entry of S. Typhi into macrophages, and considering that transcriptomic analyses revealed that stg operon is indeed expressed in macrophages, we reassessed the role of the stg operon in the interaction between S. Typhi strain STH2370 and human cells, including macrophage-like cells and mononuclear cells directly taken from human peripheral blood. RESULTS: We compared S. Typhi STH2370 WT, a Chilean clinical strain, and the S. Typhi STH2370 Δstg mutant with respect to association and invasion using epithelial and macrophage-like cells. We observed that deletion of stg operon reduced the association and invasion of S. Typhi, in both cellular types. The presence of the cloned stg operon restored the WT phenotype in all the cases. Moreover, we compared Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium 14028s (S. Typhimurium, a serovar lacking stg operon) and S. Typhimurium heterologously expressing S. Typhi stg. We found that the latter presents an increased cell disruption of polarized epithelial cells and an increased association in both epithelial and macrophage-like cells. CONCLUSIONS: S. Typhi stg operon encodes a functional adhesin that participates in the interaction bacteria-eukaryotic cells, including epithelial cells and macrophages-like cells. The phenotypes associated to stg operon include increased association and consequent invasion in bacteria-eukaryotic cells, and cell disruption.

A study of the dry forest communities in the Dominican Republic.

This paper is a floristic and phytosociological study of the dry forest communities of the Dominican Republic. A total of 69 relevés in dry forest biotopes were carried out. The samples were subsequently subjected to Detrended Correspondence Analysis for the determination and study of possible groupings. The study does not cover tree formations growing on serpentines, nor the so-called semideciduous forests, peculiar to areas with higher rainfall. A total of nine phytocoenoses were identified. The most significant results led to the description of six new phytosociological associations: Simaroubetum berteroani (thorny dry forest on coastal dunes), Phyllostylo rhamnoidis-Prosopidetum juliflorae (southern Dominican disturbed dry forest), Consoleo moniliformis-Camerarietum linearifoliae (dry forest on hard limestones), Lemaireocereo hystricis-Prosopidetum juliflorae (northern Dominican disturbed dry forest), Lycio americani-Prosopidetum juliflorae (disturbed dry forest on saline soils) and Guettardo ellipticae-Guapiretum discoloris (dry forest on flat-topped hillocks in Montecristi). This is an important step forward in the phytosociological and floristic studies of the Caribbean territories.

Phenological models to predict the main flowering phases of olive (Olea europaea L.) along a latitudinal and longitudinal gradient across the Mediterranean region.

The aim of the present study was to develop pheno-meteorological models to explain and forecast the main olive flowering phenological phases within the Mediterranean basin, across a latitudinal and longitudinal gradient that includes Tunisia, Spain, and Italy. To analyze the aerobiological sampling points, study periods from 13 years (1999-2011) to 19 years (1993-2011) were used. The forecasting models were constructed using partial least-squares regression, considering both the flowering start and full-flowering dates as dependent variables. The percentages of variance explained by the full-flowering models (mean 84 %) were greater than those explained by the flowering start models (mean 77 %). Moreover, given the time lag from the North African areas to the central Mediterranean areas in the main olive flowering dates, the regional full-flowering predictive models are proposed as the most useful to improve the knowledge of the influence of climate on the olive tree floral phenology. The meteorological parameters related to the previous autumn and both the winter and the spring seasons, and above all the temperatures, regulate the reproductive phenology of olive trees in the Mediterranean area. The mean anticipation of flowering start and full flowering for the future period from 2081 to 2100 was estimated at 10 and 12 days, respectively. One question can be raised: Will the olive trees located in the warmest areas be northward displaced or will they be able to adapt their physiology in response to the higher temperatures? The present study can be considered as an approach to design more detailed future bioclimate research.

stg fimbrial operon from S. Typhi STH2370 contributes to association and cell disruption of epithelial and macrophage-like cells

BACKGROUND: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) stg operon, encoding a chaperone/usher fimbria (CU), contributes to an increased adherence to human epithelial cells. However, one report suggests that the presence of the Stg fimbria impairs the monocyte-bacteria association, as deduced by the lower level of invasion to macrophage-like cells observed when the stg fimbrial cluster was overexpressed. Nevertheless, since other CU fimbrial structures increase the entry of S. Typhi into macrophages, and considering that transcriptomic analyses revealed that stg operon is indeed expressed in macrophages, we reassessed the role of the stg operon in the interaction between S. Typhi strain STH2370 and human cells, including macrophage-like cells and mononuclear cells directly taken from human peripheral blood. RESULTS: We compared S. Typhi STH2370 WT, a Chilean clinical strain, and the S. Typhi STH2370 Astg mutant with respect to association and invasion using epithelial and macrophage-like cells. We observed that deletion of stg operon reduced the association and invasion of S. Typhi, in both cellular types. The presence of the cloned stg operon restored the WT phenotype in all the cases. Moreover, we compared Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium 14028s (S. Typhimurium, a serovar lacking stg operon) and S. Typhimurium heterologously expressing S. Typhi stg. We found that the latter presents an increased cell disruption of polarized epithelial cells and an increased association in both epithelial and macrophage-like cells. CONCLUSIONS: S. Typhi stg operon encodes a functional adhesin that participates in the interaction bacteria-eukary-otic cells, including epithelial cells and macrophages-like cells. The phenotypes associated to stg operon include increased association and consequent invasion in bacteria-eukaryotic cells, and cell disruption.

Abordaje de las lesiones bifurcadas con stent liberador de everolimus: comparación entre estrategias simple y compleja con T-stenting / Approach to coronary bifurcation lesions using the everolimus-eluting stent: comparison between a simple strategy and a complex strategy with T-stenting

Introducción y objetivos. El abordaje de las lesiones en bifurcación se puede realizar con estrategia simple o compleja. La estrategia compleja no se ha mostrado superior a la simple con stents farmacoactivos de primera generación. Sin embargo, hasta ahora no se ha definido la mejor estrategia con los stents farmacoactivos de segunda generación. Métodos. Estudio prospectivo aleatorizado de comparación de la estrategia simple frente a la compleja mediante T-stenting en la revascularización de las lesiones en bifurcación con el uso de stent farmacoactivo liberador de everolimus. Se realizó un seguimiento clínico y angiográfico a los 9 meses. Resultados. Se incluyeron 70 lesiones de 69 pacientes, a los que se aleatorizó a estrategia simple (34 lesiones de 33 pacientes) o compleja (36 lesiones de 36 pacientes). El 85,6% de las lesiones en bifurcación fueron verdaderas. La tasa de crossover fue del 17,1%. La tasa total de reestenosis binaria fue del 12,1%, sin diferencias entre grupos de estrategia. La reestenosis del ramo lateral mostró en la estrategia simple tendencia a ser superior que en la compleja (el 10,7 frente al 0%) en el análisis por intención de tratar, pero no en el análisis por protocolo (el 5,9 frente al 4,2%). La tasa de eventos cardiacos adversos (muerte cardiaca, infarto de miocardio y nueva revascularización) fue del 9,2%, sin diferencias entre grupos. No hubo ningún caso de trombosis del stent. Conclusiones. No parece que la estrategia compleja aporte ventajas clínicas o angiográficas respecto a la simple en la revascularización de lesiones en bifurcación con stent farmacoactivo de segunda generación liberador de everolimus (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Coronary bifurcation lesions can be approached using a simple or a complex strategy. In clinical trials with first-generation drug-eluting stents, the complex strategy was not superior to the simple approach. However, to date, the best strategy when using second-generation drug-eluting stents has not been defined. Methods: We performed a prospective randomized study comparing a simple vs a complex strategy involving T-stenting for the percutaneous revascularization of bifurcation lesions using the everolimuseluting stent. Angiographic and clinical follow-up were performed at 9 months. Results: We included 70 lesions in 69 patients, who were randomized to the simple (34 lesions, 33 patients) or complex strategy (36 lesions and patients). In all, 85.6% of the lesions included were true bifurcations. The crossover rate was 17.1%. The binary restenosis rate was 12.1%, with no differences between the groups. Side branch restenosis tended to be higher with the simple strategy in the intention to treat analysis (10.7% vs 0%) but not in the per protocol analysis (5.9% vs 4.2%). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization) was 9.2%, with no differences between groups. There were no cases of stent thrombosis. Conclusions: According to the clinical and angiographic findings, the complex strategy was not significantly superior to the simple approach in the revascularization of bifurcation lesions with secondgeneration everolimus-drug eluting stents (AU)

Approach to coronary bifurcation lesions using the everolimus-eluting stent: comparison between a simple strategy and a complex strategy with T-stenting.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary bifurcation lesions can be approached using a simple or a complex strategy. In clinical trials with first-generation drug-eluting stents, the complex strategy was not superior to the simple approach. However, to date, the best strategy when using second-generation drug-eluting stents has not been defined. METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized study comparing a simple vs a complex strategy involving T-stenting for the percutaneous revascularization of bifurcation lesions using the everolimus-eluting stent. Angiographic and clinical follow-up were performed at 9 months. RESULTS: We included 70 lesions in 69 patients, who were randomized to the simple (34 lesions, 33 patients) or complex strategy (36 lesions and patients). In all, 85.6% of the lesions included were true bifurcations. The crossover rate was 17.1%. The binary restenosis rate was 12.1%, with no differences between the groups. Side branch restenosis tended to be higher with the simple strategy in the intention to treat analysis (10.7% vs 0%) but not in the per protocol analysis (5.9% vs 4.2%). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization) was 9.2%, with no differences between groups. There were no cases of stent thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: According to the clinical and angiographic findings, the complex strategy was not significantly superior to the simple approach in the revascularization of bifurcation lesions with second-generation everolimus-drug eluting stents.

Long-term betacarotene-supplementation enhances serum insulin concentrations without effect on the onset of puberty in the female goat.

The effect of betacarotene (BC) supplementation on the onset of puberty and serum insulin levels in goats was evaluated in the study. In June, prepuberal goats (n=17; 3 months old; 7/8 Saanen-Alpine; 26° NL) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1/ betacarotene group supplemented daily with 50 mg of BC (n=9; live weight [LW]: 17.3±1.0 kg; body condition score [BCS]: 3.34±0.12) or 2/ control group (CONT; n=8; LW:16.1±1.0 kg; BCS=3.17±0.12). From June to November, an intermittent blood sampling was performed twice per week in both groups to evaluate serum progesterone (P(4)), while monthly samples were intended for insulin (INS) determination. Initial mean LW (16.7±1.0 kg) and BCS (3.31±0.12) were similar (p>0.05) in both groups. Mean serum insulin (1.37 vs. 1.18±0.09 ng/ml), age of puberty (215.7 vs. 226.5±6.6 days) and the percentage of goats reaching puberty (44.4 vs. 25.0±17.0%) did not differ (p>0.05) between BC and CONT group, respectively. However, increase in serum insulin during the second half of the experiment was observed in BC group (p<0.05) which was positively correlated with LW (r=0.95; p<0.05). In addition, as LW (r=-0.89) and serum insulin (r=-0.76) levels increased, the natural photoperiod decreased, revealing negative correlations (p<0.05) between the respective variables. In this study, BC supplementation did not promote precocious puberty and did not affect the percentage of goats reaching activation of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-gonadal axis during the establishment of puberty. Nonetheless, BC supplementation positively affected the release pattern of insulin suggesting a potential role of BC as pancreas-activating molecule.

Spontaneous closure of pseudoaneurysm after transapical aortic valve implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation by an apical approach has been developed as an alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement. Complications with these relatively new procedures are being reported. We report a case of transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation, in which a pseudoaneurysm at the apex of the left ventricle as a complication of the procedure developed in the patient and was treated without surgery. The defect spontaneously closed.

Treatment of patellofemoral chondropathy with the Bandi tibial tubercle osteotomy More than 10years follow-up.

Isolated degenerative patellofemoral chondropathy is a prevalent disease. There is still controversy regarding its ideal type of management. A retrospective study was performed to assess the outcomes of 28 patients with a minimum of 10-year follow-up, in whom the Bandi tibial tubercle osteotomy was performed. The Bentley score was applied pre and postoperatively to evaluate the clinical results. Preoperatively, 21 (67%) patients were rated as fair and seven (33%) as poor according to the Bentley functional scale for patellofemoral osteoarthritis. At 5 years of follow-up, one case was rated as excellent, 23 (81%) cases as good, three as fair and one as poor. At 10 years of follow-up no cases were rated as excellent, 17 (61%) cases as good, four (14%) as fair and seven (25%) as poor. The difference in terms of poor results evaluated at five and 10 years after the surgery was statistically significant (p<0.05). We concluded that excellent and good short-term results can be expected with the use of the Bandi tibial tubercle osteotomy in patients with isolated degenerative patellofemoral chondropathy; however, such outcomes tend to deteriorate over the time, especially in patients with advanced chondromalacia, making its indication controversial.