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.

Ultrasonographic scores for ileal Crohn's disease assessment: Better, worse or the same as contrast-enhanced ultrasound?

BACKGROUND

Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is an increasingly used non-invasive tool to evaluate Crohn's disease (CD) activity. Recently, two IUS scores that evaluate inflammatory activity have emerged: the Simple Ultrasound Activity Score for CD (SUS-CD) and the International Bowel Ultrasound Segmental Activity Score (IBUS-SAS). We aimed to compare the accuracy of SUS-CD, IBUS-SAS and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in predicting inflammatory activity in the terminal ileum in ileocolonoscopy in CD patients.

METHODS

Retrospective study including all consecutive CD patients submitted to IUS with CEUS directed to the terminal ileum performed by a single operator between April 2016 and March 2020. Segmental SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were calculated. A time-intensity curve of the contrast bowel wall enhancement was created with measurement of peak intensity using CEUS. The CD endoscopic activity in ileocolonoscopy was graded by Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (SES-CD) as inactive (SES-CD < 7) or active (SES-CD ≥ 7).

RESULTS

Fifty patients were included, 54.0% were female, with mean age of 34 ± 12 years, and most had isolated ileal disease (60.0%), and a nonstricturing, nonpenetrating behaviour (44.0%). Most of the patients (60.0%) had active endoscopic disease (SES-CD ≥ 7). SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were not different between patients with active or inactive endoscopic disease (p = 0.15; 0.57, respectively), having a poor accuracy to correlate endoscopic activity (area under de curve (AUC) 0.62; 0.55, respectively). Peak intensity in CEUS was significantly different in patients with active or inactive endoscopic disease (p = 0.004), having a good accuracy to correlate endoscopic activity (AUC 0.80).

CONCLUSION

Unlike CEUS, SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were not able to accurately correlate endoscopic activity in terminal ileum in CD. Therefore, CEUS is a non-invasive emerging method that should be increasingly integrated in the ultrasonographic evaluation of CD patients.

Iodine deficiency a persisting problem: assessment of iodine nutrition and evaluation of thyroid nodular pathology in Portugal

BACKGROUND

The goal of eliminating iodine deficiency (ID) by the year 2000 has still not been achieved in several countries. More than 2 billion people worldwide (over 260 million school age children) remain ID. In Europe, there are still countries, such as Portugal, without national general population data on iodine nutrition (IN). This study aims at evaluating combined complementary data of the IN of the general population through urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and the thyroid histology profile from the inland region of Beira Interior (BI), in Portugal.

METHODS

UIC from a population sample of 214 volunteers (131 females and 83 males), with ages ranging from 8 to 97 years (mean 51.5 years ± SD 20.74 years), from BI was determined; the thyroid histology pattern in BI (6-year period) was evaluated; and the iodine content of the largest surface water reservoir of BI, never previously reported, was measured.

RESULTS

Median UIC of 62.6 μg/L was measured. Over 92 % of the population had UIC less than 100 μg/L. From 279 histology reports evaluated, the incidence of the different types of thyroid nodular pathology in BI was established. There were 60 histologic diagnoses of malignancy. The observed ratio of papillary to follicular carcinoma relatively close to 1 and the fairly high percentage of anaplastic carcinomas are characteristic of ID areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this first general population study on IN from the inland region of BI, Portugal, document significant ID. This problem, with its serious public health implications, could be corrected by having affordable iodised salt widely and generally available and by promoting a proactive population attitude generated by ample public information and educational programs as to the negative consequences of ID.

Effects of microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin on plant-soil systems: A review of their relevance for agricultural plant quality and public health

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are recognized as an emerging environmental threat worldwide. Although microcystin-LR is the most frequently documented cyanotoxin, studies on cylindrospermopsin have been increasing due to the invasive nature of cylindrospermopsin-producing cyanobacteria. The number of studies regarding the effects of cyanotoxins on agricultural plants has increased in recent years, and it has been suggested that the presence of microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin in irrigation water may cause toxic effects in edible plants. The uptake of these cyanotoxins by agricultural plants has been shown to induce morphological and physiological changes that lead to a potential loss of productivity. There is also evidence that edible terrestrial plants can bioaccumulate cyanotoxins in their tissues in a concentration dependent-manner. Moreover, the number of consecutive cycles of watering and planting in addition to the potential persistence of microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin in the environment are likely to result in groundwater contamination. The use of cyanotoxin-contaminated water for agricultural purposes may therefore represent a threat to both food security and food safety. However, the deleterious effects of cyanotoxins on agricultural plants and public health seem to be dependent on the concentrations studied, which in most cases are non-environmentally relevant. Interestingly, at ecologically relevant concentrations, the productivity and nutritional quality of some agricultural plants seem not to be impaired and may even be enhanced. However, studies assessing if the potential tolerance of agricultural plants to these concentrations can result in cyanotoxin and allergen accumulation in the edible tissues are lacking. This review combines the most current information available regarding this topic with a realistic assessment of the impact of cyanobacterial toxins on agricultural plants, groundwater quality and public health.

Analysis of the use of microcystin-contaminated water in the growth and nutritional quality of the root-vegetable, Daucus carota

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are often observed in freshwaters and may reflect the increased eutrophication of these environments and alterations in climate. Cyanotoxins, such as microcystins (MCs), are an effective threat to many life forms, ranging from plants to humans. Despite the research conducted to date on cyanotoxins, the risks associated to the use of contaminated water in agriculture require further elucidation. To tackle this aim, a research was conducted with the root-vegetable Daucus carota. The specific aims of this work were the following: (i) to evaluate the effects of MC-LR on the plant growth and photosynthesis; (ii) to evaluate the nutritional quality of carrot roots; and (iii) to measure bioaccumulation. To this purpose, young carrots were grown in soil during 1 month in natural conditions and exposed to Mycrocystis aeruginosa aqueous extracts containing environmentally realistic concentrations of MC-LR (10 and 50 MC-LR μg/L). The results showed that MC-LR may decrease root growth after 28 days of exposure to 50 μg/L and increase photosynthetic efficiency. We also observed changes in mineral and vitamin content in carrots as a result of the exposure to contaminated water. Moreover, MC-LR was detected in carrot roots by ELISA at very low concentration 5.23 ± 0.47 ng MC eq./g FW. The soil retained 52.7 % of the toxin potentially available for plants. This result could be attributed to MC-LR adsorption by soil particles or due to microbial degradation of the toxin. We conclude that the prolonged use of MC-LR-contaminated water may affect crop growth, alter the nutritional value of vegetable products, and potentiate contamination.

Histology and Immunohistochemistry of the Cardiac Ventricular Structure in the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

This study describes the implications of cardiac ventricular microscopy in Chelonia mydas relating to its ability to dive. For this work, 11 specimens of the marine turtle species C. mydas found dead on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte (Northeast Brazil) were used. After necropsy, fragments of the cardiac ventricular wall were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution for 24 h and then subjected to routine processing for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ventricle in this species is formed by the epicardium, myocardium and endocardium. The subepicardial layer consists of highly vascularised connective tissue that emits septa to reinforce the myocardium surface. There is an abundant and diffuse subepicardial nerve plexus shown by immunostaining technique. The thickness of the spongy myocardium and the nature of its trabeculae varied between the heart chambers. The endocardium shows no characteristic elements of the heart conduction system. The valves have a hyaline cartilage skeleton, coated by dense irregular connective tissues characterised by elastic fibres. These findings in the green turtle ventricular microscopy are related to hypoxia resistance during diving.

Chemical characterization of a red raspberry fruit extract and evaluation of its pharmacological effects in experimental models of acute inflammation and collagen-induced arthritis

Berries are an important dietary source of fibres, vitamins, minerals and some biologically active non-nutrients. A red raspberry fruit extract was characterized in terms of phenolic content and the anti-inflammatory properties and protective effects were evaluated in two experimental models of inflammation. The antioxidant potential of the extract, the cellular antioxidant activity and the effects over neutrophils' oxidative burst were also studied to provide a mechanistic insight for the anti-inflammatory effects observed. The extract was administered in a dose of 15 mg kg(-1), i.p. and significantly inhibited paw oedema formation in the rat. The same dose was administered via i.p. and p.o. routes in the collagen-induced arthritis model in the rat. The extract showed pharmacological activity and was able to significantly reduce the development of clinical signs of arthritis and markedly reduce the degree of bone resorption, soft tissue swelling and osteophyte formation, preventing articular destruction in treated animals.

Manipulation of primer affinity improves high-resolution melting accuracy for imprinted genes

High-resolution melting (HRM) is considered an inexpensive, rapid, and attractive methodology for methylation analysis. In the application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to methylation analysis, amplification efficiencies are biased towards unmethylated, rather than methylated, templates: a phenomenon known as PCR bias. To overcome PCR bias, primers that include CpG site(s) and are fully complementary to the methylated sequence have been proposed. However, genes mapped within imprinted regions usually present higher methylation levels, and an unusual PCR bias towards the methylated template can therefore arise. The manipulation of primer affinity attempts to overcome this problem. We attempted to show that mismatches at the primer's methylated binding sites increase the area between the 50 and 100% methylation plots on the melting curves, and may increase HRM accuracy for samples that have high methylation levels. Sets of primers for imprinted genes that included CpG sites at their binding sequences were designed, and were complementary to methylated or unmethylated templates. Primers fully complementary to methylated templates produced a very small area between the 50 and 100% methylation plots. When using primers that were fully complementary to the unmethylated sequence, we were able to increase the area between the 50 and 100% methylation plots. Therefore, when samples are highly methylated, such as targets in genes mapped in imprinted regions, we propose that primers should favor amplification of the rarest, unmethylated sequence. Primers may be designed to include one CpG at its binding site and be fully complementary to the unmethylated template.

Protective effects of hydroxytyrosol-supplemented refined olive oil in animal models of acute inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis

Virgin olive oil is the primary source of fat in the Mediterranean diet, and its beneficial health effects have been related with oleic acid and phenolic compounds content. Hydroxytyrosol, a typical virgin olive oil phenolic compound, has beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as previously reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroxytyrosol-supplemented refined olive oil at 0.5 and 5 mg/kg in a rodent model of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis was induced by intradermic administration, in male Wistar rats, of Freund's adjuvant with collagen type II on days 1 and 21. Hydroxytyrosol-supplemented refined olive oils were administrated by gavage from day 23 until day 35. The treatment at 5-mg/kg dose significantly decreased paw edema (P<.01), histological damage, cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and markedly reduced the degree of bone resorption, soft tissue swelling and osteophyte formation, improving articular function in treated animals. Acute inflammation, induced by carrageenan, was also evaluated for hydroxytyrosol-supplemented refined olive oils at 0.5 and 5 mg/kg. Both doses significantly reduced paw edema (P<.001). Our results suggest that the supplementation of refined olive oil with hydroxytyrosol may be advantageous in rheumatoid arthritis with significant impact not only on chronic inflammation but also on acute inflammatory processes.

[Circumferential viscocanalostomy with suture tensioning in Schlemm canal (canaloplasty)-one year experience]

PURPOSE

To study the efficacy and the safety of ultrasound biomicroscopy assisted canaloplasty in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) METHODS: A prospective study of uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma patients, or patients with cataracts associated with controlled or uncontrolled OAG under maximal medical therapy who had been subjected to canaloplasty alone or combined with cataract surgery, respectively. Complications, Goldmann intraocular pressure (IOP) and mean number of drugs (ND) were evaluated at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and every 3 months.

RESULTS

Thirty five surgeries were performed (11 canaloplasties, 24 phaco-canaloplasties). The mean IOP (mmHg) dropped from 24.5±5.1, in canaloplasty, and from 19.8±6.4, in phacocanaloplasty, preoperatively, to medium-low levels at all follow-up periods (13.5±1.0 and 11.0±4.2, at 1 year in canaloplasty and phaco-canaloplasty, respectively). The number of grugs used dropped from 3.3±0.5 before surgery to less than of 1 in all follow-up periods (0.5±0.8 at 1 year). The complications were 2 microruptures of the trabeculodescemetic window, 5 entries in the collector channels, 5 choroidal space/anterior chamber passages, 10 hyphemas, 3 hypotonies, one peripheral Descemet detachment, one intracorneal hematoma, two peripheral anterior synechia, one internal iris prolapse, and two suture extrusions to the anterior chamber.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound biomicroscopy assisted Canaloplasty, alone or combined, provided a sustained IOP reduction to medium-low levels, led to a decrease in the number of drugs and had a good safety profile, making this a good alternative to trabeculectomy.

Characterization of glomerular diseases using proteomic analysis of laser capture microdissected glomeruli

The application of molecular techniques to characterize clinical kidney biopsies has the potential to provide insights into glomerular diseases that cannot be revealed by traditional renal pathology. The present work is a proof-of-concept approach to test whether proteomic analysis of glomeruli isolated from clinical biopsies by laser capture microdissection can provide unique information regarding differentially expressed proteins relevant to disease pathogenesis. The proteomes of glomeruli isolated by laser capture microdissection from biopsies of normal kidneys (living-related donor kidneys) were compared with those from patients with diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, and fibronectin glomerulopathy. Glomerular proteins were extracted, trypsin digested, and subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for identification and quantitation. Relative to normal glomeruli, all disease-associated glomeruli showed an increased presence of complement components, a marked decline in podocyte-associated proteins, and a decrease in proteins associated with cellular metabolism. Additionally, fibronectin glomerulopathy glomeruli differed from all the other glomeruli because of a significant accumulation of fibronectin and fibulin. This study demonstrates that our method acquires reproducible and quantitative proteomic information from laser capture microdissection isolates that can be used to characterize the molecular features of glomerular diseases.

Viridans streptococci causing community acquired pneumonia

In children under 5 years of age, presenting to the paediatric emergency room with clinical and radiological findings of pneumonia, viridans streptococci were isolated in 10/33 positive haemocultures as the only microorganism. Viridans streptococci should therefore not be ruled out as a cause of pneumonia.

Intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the N1E-115 neuronal cell line and its use for peripheric nerve regeneration

Entubulation repair of peripheral nerve injuries has a lengthy history. Several experimental and clinical studies have explored the effectiveness of many biodegradable and non-degradable tubes with or without addition of molecules and cells. The main objective of the present study was to develop an economical and also an easy way for culturing a neural cell line which is capable of growing, differentiating and producing locally nerve growth factors, that are otherwise extremely expensive, inside 90 PLA/10 PLG nerve guides. For this purpose the authors have chosen the N1E-115 cell line, a clone of cells derived from mouse neuroblastoma C-1300 with the perspective of using this differentiated cellular system to cover the inside of 90 PLA/10 PLG nerve guides placed to bridge a nerve gap of 10 mm in the rat sciatic nerve experimental model. The N1E-115 cells proliferate in normal culture medium but undergo neuronal differentiation in response to DMSO. Upon induction of differentiation, proliferation of N1E-115 cells ceases, extensive neurite outgrowth is observed and the membranes become highly excitable. While it is known that Ca2+ serves as an important intracellular signal for cellular various processes, such as growth and differentiation, be toxic to cells and be involved in the triggering of events leading to excitotoxic cell death in neurons. The [Ca2+]i in non-differentiated N1E-115 cells and after distinct periods of differentiation, have been determined by the epifluorescence technique using the Fura-2-AM probe. The results of this quantitative assessment, revealed that N1E-115 cells which undergo neuronal differentiation for 48 hours in the presence of 1.5% DMSO are best qualified to be used to cover the interior of the nerve guides since the [Ca2+]i was not found to be elevated indicating thus that the onset the cell death processes was not occurred.

Determination of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the N1E-115 neuronal cell line in perspective of its use for peripheric nerve regeneration

Entubulation repair of peripheral nerve injuries has a lengthy history. Several experimental and clinical studies have explored the effectiveness of many biodegradable and non-degradable tubes with or without addition of molecules and cells. The main objective of the present study was to develop an economical and also an easy way for culturing a neural cell line which was capable of growing, differentiating and producing locally nerve growth factors that are otherwise extremely expensive, inside 90 PLA/10 PLG nerve guides. For this purpose the authors have chosen the N1E-115 cell line, a clone of cells derived from mouse neuroblastoma C-1300 with the perspective of using this differentiated cellular system to cover the inside of 90 PLA/10 PLG nerve guides placed to bridge a gap in the rat sciatic nerve experimental model. The N1E-115 cells proliferate in normal culture medium but undergo neuronal differentiation in response to DMSO. Upon induction of differentiation, proliferation of N1E-115 cells ceases, extensive neurite outgrowth is observed and the membranes become highly excitable. While it is known that Ca2+ serves as an important intracellular signal for various cellular processes, such as growth and differentiation. It is also known that can be toxic to cells and is involved in the triggering of events leading to excitotoxic cell death in neurons. The [Ca2+]i in non-differentiated N1E-115 cells and after distinct periods of differentiation, have been determined by the epifluorescence technique using the Fura-2-AM probe. The results of this quantitative assessment revealed that N1E-115 cells which undergo neuronal differentiation for 48 hours in the presence of 1.5% DMSO are best qualified to be used to cover the interior of the nerve guides since the [Ca2+]i was not found to be elevated indicating thus that the onset the cell death processes was not occurred.

A heat labile soluble factor from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482 specifically increases the galactosylation pattern of HT29-MTX cells

The aim of this work was to set up and validate an in vitro model to study a molecular response of an intestinal host cell line (HT29-MTX), to a non-pathogen microflora component. We found that Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron strain VPI-5482 had the capacity to change a specific glycosylation process in HT29-MTX cells via a mechanism that involved a soluble factor. Differentiated HT29-MTX cells were grown in the presence of 20% of spent culture supernatant from the B. thetaiotaomicron during 10 days. Glycosylation processes were followed using a large panel of lectins and analysed using confocal microscopy, western blotting and flow cytometry techniques. Our results show that a B. thetaiotaomicron soluble factor modified specifically the galactosylation pattern of HT29-MTX cells, whereas other glycosylation steps remained mainly unaffected. Further characterization of this soluble factor indicates that it is a heat labile, low molecular weight compound. Reverse transcript-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis was unable to show any significant change in mRNA expression level of the main galactosyltransferases expressed in HT29-MTX cells. By contrast, galactosyltransferase activities dramatically increased in HT29-MTX cells treated by the soluble extract of B. thetaiotaomicron, suggesting a post-translational regulation of these activities. Our in vitro model allowed us to study the cross-talk between a single bacteria and intestinal cells. The galactosylation process appears to be a target of this communication, thus uncovering a new window to study the functional consequences of co-operative symbiotic bacterial-host interactions.