Anesthetic effects of different volumes of lidocaine for spermatic cord block in cattle.

Objective: To evaluate three volumes of lidocaine for spermatic cord block to perform castration in cattle.

Study Design: Randomized blinded clinical study.

Animals: Thirty mixed-breed Nellore cattle, aged 28-40 months and weighing 395±21 (352-452) kg [mean±standard deviation (range)].

Resveratrol and Grape Extract-loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

The aggregation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) has been linked to the formation of neuritic plaques, which are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Various natural compounds have been suggested as therapeutics for AD. Among these compounds, resveratrol has aroused great interest due to its neuroprotective characteristics.

Novel Variants of Streptococcus thermophilus Bacteriophages Are Indicative of Genetic Recombination among Phages from Different Bacterial Species.

Bacteriophages are the main cause of fermentation failures in dairy plants. The majority of phages can be divided into either - or -type phages and are additionally characterized by examining the V2 region of their antireceptors. We screened a large number of phages from the Chr.

MetaboSignal: a network-based approach for topological analysis of metabotype regulation via metabolic and signaling pathways.

Summary: MetaboSignal is an R package that allows merging metabolic and signaling pathways reported in the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). It is a network-based approach designed to navigate through topological relationships between genes (signaling- or metabolic-genes) and metabolites, representing a powerful tool to investigate the genetic landscape of metabolic phenotypes.

Availability And Implementation: MetaboSignal is available from Bioconductor: https://bioconductor.

Genetic and Morphological Variation of the Forkbeard, Phycis phycis (Pisces, Phycidae): Evidence of Panmixia and Recent Population Expansion along Its Distribution Area.

The knowledge of population structure of a species is essential to effectively assess and manage fisheries. In the present study, genetics, by mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequence analysis, and body geometric morphometrics were used to evaluate the existence of distinct populations of the forkbeard (Phycis phycis), an important commercial species in several European countries, especially Portugal and Spain. For geometric morphometric analysis, specimens were collected in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean-Azores, Madeira and mainland Portugal, and for genetic analysis, these samples were complemented with samples collected in the Mediterranean Sea-Spain, Italy and Croatia, in order to cover the entire distribution area of the species.

Effect of interim cement application on bond strength between resin cements and dentin: Immediate and delayed dentin sealing.

Statement Of Problem: Despite the advances in materials and techniques, adhesion to dentin is challenging because of the complex composition of dentin's mineral, organic, and fluid phases.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the bond strength of 2 different resin cements (conventional and self-adhesive) with or without previous dentin sealing and the effect of interim cement.

Material And Methods: Forty-five molars were embedded into acrylic resin blocks and a flat dentin surface was exposed.

Structure-activity relationship studies for multitarget antithrombotic drugs.

Thrombosis is a complex process involving multiple pathways. Currently, therapy relies on the combination of two or more antithrombotic drugs, showing that inhibiting more than one target provides benefits in the prevention and treatment of thrombosis. This review focuses on structure-activity relationship studies of molecules possessing multiple actions against thrombosis, namely, dual inhibitors of coagulation, dual inhibitors of coagulation and platelet aggregation, and also dual inhibitors of platelet aggregation.

Design, development, and characterization of lipid nanocarriers-based epigallocatechin gallate delivery system for preventive and therapeutic supplementation.

Green tea is manufactured from the leaves of and has been shown to possess, among other properties, anticancer, antiobesity, antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. The beneficial effects of green tea are related to the activities of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This catechin is very unstable, undergoing degradation and epimerization, which is responsible for the loss of its health benefits.

Resveratrol Interaction with Lipid Bilayers: A Synchrotron X-ray Scattering Study.

Resveratrol belongs to the large group of biologically active polyphenol compounds, with several beneficial health effects including antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory action, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, and cancer chemoprevention. In the present study, the possibility that the effects of resveratrol described above are caused by resveratrol membrane interactions and structural modifications of lipid bilayers is evaluated. In this context, it is possible that resveratrol interacts selectively with lipid domains present in biological membranes, thereby modulating the localization of the anchored proteins and controlling their intracellular cascades.

Cardiac injury biomarkers in paediatric age: Are we there yet?

The aim of this article is to evaluate the clinical utility of cardiac injury biomarkers in paediatric age. In December 2015, a literature search was performed (PubMed access to MEDLINE citations; http://www.ncbi.

Healthcare hashtag index development: Identifying global impact in social media.

Purpose: Create an index of global reach for healthcare hashtags and tweeters therein, filterable by topic of interest.

Materials And Methods: For this proof-of-concept study we focused on the field of Primary Care and Family Medicine. Six hashtags were selected based on their importance, from the ones included in the 'Healthcare Hashtag Project'.

The Utility of Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Pediatric Cardiology: A Review.

Objective: The aim of this article is to evaluate the clinical utility of brain natriuretic peptide in pediatric patients, examining the diagnostic value, management, and prognostic relevance, by critical assessment of the literature.

Data Sources: In December 2015, a literature search was performed (PubMed access to MEDLINE citations; http://www.ncbi.

Area correlation constraint for the MCR-ALS quantification of cholesterol using EEM fluorescence data: A new approach.

This work demonstrates the use of a new additional constraint for the Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) algorithm called "area correlation constraint", introduced to build calibration models for Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) data. We propose the application of area correlation constraint MCR-ALS for the quantification of cholesterol using a simulated data set and an experimental data system (cholesterol in a ternary mixture). This new constraint includes pseudo-univariate local regressions using the area of resolved profiles against reference values during the alternating least squares optimization, to provide directly accurate quantifications of a specific analyte in concentration units.

Nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with resveratrol modulate human dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are promising targets for drug delivery, as they can induce immunity or tolerance. The current study aims to examine the potential of using nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) as delivery systems for human DC by evaluating nanoparticle internalization, cell labeling, and drug activity. NLC were formulated incorporating the fluorochrome fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-NLC) or the natural anti-inflammatory molecule resveratrol (rsv-NLC).

Identification and automatic segmentation of multiphasic cell growth using a linear hybrid model.

This article considers a new mathematical model for the description of multiphasic cell growth. A linear hybrid model is proposed and it is shown that the two-parameter logistic model with switching parameters can be represented by a Switched affine AutoRegressive model with eXogenous inputs (SARX). The growth phases are modeled as continuous processes, while the switches between the phases are considered to be discrete events triggering a change in growth parameters.

Strategies to Overcome Heparins' Low Oral Bioavailability.

Even after a century, heparin is still the most effective anticoagulant available with few side effects. The poor oral absorption of heparins triggered the search for strategies to achieve oral bioavailability since this route has evident advantages over parenteral administration. Several approaches emerged, such as conjugation of heparins with bile acids and lipids, formulation with penetration enhancers, and encapsulation of heparins in micro and nanoparticles.

Beliefs on Marital Violence and Self-Reported Dating Violence: A Comparative Study of Cape Verdean and Portuguese Adolescents.

In this study, we compare Portuguese and Cape Verdean youths' upholding of traditional beliefs about intimate partner violence (IPV) and the frequency of self-reported violent behavior in dating relationships. The sample ( = 404) consisted of 183 Cape Verdean and 221 Portuguese secondary school students of both sexes (56 % female; mean age = 16). We used two questionnaires that had previously been validated in the Portuguese population.

The microbial-mammalian metabolic axis: a critical symbiotic relationship.

Purpose Of Review: The microbial-mammalian symbiosis plays a critical role in metabolic health. Microbial metabolites emerge as key messengers in the complex communication between the gut microbiota and their host. These chemical signals are mainly derived from nutritional precursors, which in turn are also able to modify gut microbiota population.

Myocardial Injury Biomarkers in Newborns with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Troponin I, myoglobin, and creatine kinase-MB mass (CK-MB) are biomarkers of cardiomyocyte injury widely used in the management of adult patients. The role of these biomarkers in newborns is still not established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of cardiac injury biomarkers in newborns with congenital heart disease.

Impact of the gut microbiota on inflammation, obesity, and metabolic disease.

The human gut harbors more than 100 trillion microbial cells, which have an essential role in human metabolic regulation via their symbiotic interactions with the host. Altered gut microbial ecosystems have been associated with increased metabolic and immune disorders in animals and humans. Molecular interactions linking the gut microbiota with host energy metabolism, lipid accumulation, and immunity have also been identified.

Brain-targeted delivery of resveratrol using solid lipid nanoparticles functionalized with apolipoprotein E.

Background: The present study takes advantage of the beneficial effects of resveratrol as a neuroprotective compound. Resveratrol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were functionalized with apolipoprotein E which can be recognized by the LDL receptors overexpressed on the blood-brain barrier.

Results: Transmission electron microscopy images revealed spherical nanoparticles, dynamic light scattering gave a Z-average lower than 200 nm, and a zeta potential of around -13 mV and very high resveratrol entrapment efficiency (ca.

Nanoscale Delivery of Resveratrol towards Enhancement of Supplements and Nutraceuticals.

Resveratrol was investigated in terms of its stability, biocompatibility and intestinal permeability across Caco-2 cell monolayers in its free form or encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). SLNs and NLCs presented a mean diameter between 160 and 190 nm, high negative zeta potential of -30 mV and resveratrol entrapment efficiency of 80%, suggesting they are suitable for resveratrol oral delivery. Nanoencapsulation effectively protected resveratrol from photodegradation, and MTT assays demonstrated that neither resveratrol nor lipid nanoparticles adversely affected cell viability and integrity of Caco-2 cell monolayers.