In dairy cows, the processes involved in the resolution of uterine inflammation during the postpartum are closely related to improved fertility during the subsequent lactation period. Little is known, however, about the role and distribution of endometrial immune cell populations during the pre-implantation period. This study was aimed to analyze the endometrial distribution of several mononuclear immune cells (T cells, γδ T cells, B cells and macrophages) in healthy dairy cows during the postpartum, beyond the transition period, looking for its possible association with the parturition-conception interval (PCI) and delayed conception.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGrowth hormone is a key endocrine factor for metabolic adaptations to lactation and optimal reproductive function of the dairy cow. This study aimed to analyze the expression of GH and its receptor (GHR) in ovarian follicles, along with metabolic biomarkers, during the resumption of the postpartum follicular development, and to analyze the immunolocalization and protein expression of GH and GHR in preovulatory follicles. Thirty-six dairy cows were grouped according to the postpartum days (PPD) until the establishment of the first dominant follicle in: cows that established their first dominant follicle at fewer postpartum days (FPPD group; n = 15) and cows that established their first dominant follicle at more postpartum days (MPPD group; n = 22).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) have been commonly used in agriculture to inhibit weed growth and increase yields. However, due to the high solubility of these herbicides in water, they can reach aquatic environments, by infiltration, erosion, and/or lixiviation, affecting non target organisms. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the toxicity of GBH Roundup WG® (RWG®) during the embryonic and larval development of Danio rerio.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE) is a neuroimmunologic disease characterized by the acute onset of external ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and consciousness disturbance, mostly subsequent to an infection. BBE is considered to be a variant of Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS), which also exhibits external ophthalmoplegia and ataxia but not presenting consciousness alterations. Therefore, these two medical conditions are included in the clinical spectrum of the "Fisher-Bickerstaff syndrome" ( Shahrizaila and Yuki in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 84(5):576-583) [1].
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: For diving, marine predators, accelerometer and magnetometer data provides critical information on sub-surface foraging behaviours that cannot be identified from location or time-depth data. By measuring head movement and body orientation, accelerometers and magnetometers can help identify broad shifts in foraging movements, fine-scale habitat use and energy expenditure of terrestrial and marine species. Here, we use accelerometer and magnetometer data from tagged Australian sea lions and provide a new method to identify key benthic foraging areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Glans dehiscence (GD) is reportedly a common complication after proximal hypospadias repairs. However, the need for surgical correction is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess awareness, risk factors, and outcome of GD in post-pubertal patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBefore ovulation, the ovary exhibits signs of local inflammation. However, the effects of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on the complexity of this inflammatory response are not yet well described. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ACTH administered to dairy cows during the preovulatory period on the local distribution of different subsets of leukocytes infiltrated in the ovary, along with the gene expression of relevant chemokines (C-C motif chemokine ligand-2 (CCL2), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand-8 (CXCL8), CCL25 and CXCL1) involved in leukocyte chemotaxis and blood perfusion on the follicular wall of dominant follicles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The distress thermometer is a well-established screening tool to detect clinically significant distress in cancer patients. It is often administered in combination with the problem list, differentiating further between various (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new onset of status epilepticus in a previously healthy adult preceded by a recent minor febrile infection represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in clinical practice. Considering the broad spectrum of epileptic encephalopathies caused by autoimmune mechanisms, differential diagnosis for new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) should include febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES), in order to not underestimate the underlying etiological condition triggering epilepsy in non-epileptic patients (Hon et al. in Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov 12:128-135, 2018).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding how marine food webs are affected by anthropogenic stressors is an important steppingstone toward the improved management of natural resources. Stable isotope analysis of historical and modern samples spanning a century indicated that the niche width of an exploited fish community increased after the expansion of New Zealand fisheries. Since the 2000s most species increased their reliance on food webs supported by pelagic production, compared to coastal production supported by macroalgae, and shifted to a higher trophic level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring postpartum, high-production dairy cows show a temporary period of insulin resistance, during which glucose uptake by peripheral tissues is reduced to prioritize milk production. However, this can further increase their negative energy balance by compromising liver function, especially in cows with excessive body condition score (BCS) and a pro-inflammatory state. Based on this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic expression of proteins of the insulin signaling pathway (PI3K) and of the cytokines TNFα, IL-6 and NF-κB, as well as the plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, triglycerides (TAG), insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin sensitivity indexes, and the hepatic content of TAG during the transition period in cows with different BCS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIsotopic ecology has been widely used to understand spatial connectivity and trophic interactions in marine systems. However, its potential for monitoring an ecosystem's health and function has been hampered by the lack of consistent sample storage and long-term studies. Preserved specimens from museum collections are a valuable source of tissue for analyses from ancient and pre-modern times, but isotopic signatures are known to be affected by commonly used fixatives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study carried out assessments regarding thermal sensations under different weather conditions in three urban areas in Cuiabá, Brazil, a Tropical Savannah climate (Aw) region. Thermal acceptability by means of thermal sensation votes (TSV) was addressed based on the estimation of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) values. Important issues related to clothing thermal insulation (Icl), the effect of gender on thermal sensation, and implications of artificial conditioning (AC) systems are also evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA common reproductive disease in dairy cattle is Cystic Ovarian Disease. To study its development, there was use of an experimental model of follicular persistence to detect hemodynamic changes occurring in ovaries by using Doppler ultrasonography. After estrous synchronization, control cows received no additional treatment and were evaluated at proestrus (CG), whereas treated cows (PG) received sub-luteal doses of progesterone for 15 days and were evaluated at proestrus, and after 0, 5, 10 and 15 days of follicular persistence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe unicellular green microalga is a powerful photosynthetic model organism which is capable of heterotrophic growth on acetate as a sole carbon source. This capacity has enabled its use for investigations of perturbations in photosynthetic machinery as mutants can be recovered heterotrophically. Fixation of acetate into cellular carbon metabolism occurs first by its conversion into acetyl-CoA by a respective synthase and the generation of succinate by the glyoxylate cycle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTissue regeneration requires scaffolds that exhibit mechanical properties similar to the tissues to be replaced while allowing cell infiltration and extracellular matrix production. Ideally, the scaffolds' porous architecture and physico-chemical properties can be precisely defined to address regenerative needs. We thus developed techniques to produce hybrid fibers coaxially structured with a polycaprolactone core and a 4-arm, polyethylene glycol thiol-norbornene sheath.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThroughout the estrous cycle the mammalian endometrium undergoes morphological and functional changes that are essential for the establishment of pregnancy and proper ovarian and uterine functions. Among these changes, the most important are alterations in both inter- and intracellular signalling molecules, many of which modulate immune processes. In the endometrial tissue there are local innate (nonspecific) and adaptive (specific/acquired) response mechanisms which vary because of the endocrine status during the estrous cycle, pregnancy and postpartum period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis a zoanthid often dominant in shallow rocky environments along the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean, from the tropics to the subtropics. This species has high environmental tolerance and is a good space competitor in reef environments. Considering current and future scenarios in the global climate regime, this study aimed to model and analyze the distribution of , generating maps of potential distribution for the present and the year 2100.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are essential components of innate immunity. Here we show that antimicrobial potency of CAMPs is linearly correlated to the product CHL where C is the net charge of the peptide, H is a measure of its hydrophobicity and L its length. Exponents m and n define the relative contribution of charge and hydrophobicity to the antimicrobial potency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness to allergens, airway edema, and increased mucus secretion. Such mucus can be liquefied by recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase), in which efficacy of rhDNase has been well documented in patients with cystic fibrosis, but little studied in asthma. In the present study, we investigated whether rhDNase intranasal administration improved inflammation and pulmonary function in an experimental model of asthma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommercial uses of bioactive peptides require low cost, effective methods for their production. We developed a new carrier protein for high yield production of recombinant peptides in Escherichia coli very well suited for the production of toxic peptides like antimicrobial peptides. GKY20, a short antimicrobial peptide derived from the C-terminus of human thrombin, was fused to the C-terminus of Onconase, a small ribonuclease (104 amino acids), which efficiently drove the peptide into inclusion bodies with very high expression levels (about 200-250 mg/L).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the current study was to identify and compare the characteristics of maxillofacial trauma in alcohol and drug users with those of nonusers. A retrospective study was conducted using the medical records of patients treated for facial trauma between April 1999 and March 2012 at the Maxillofacial Surgery Division of the Piracicaba Dental School. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, binary logistic regression, and correlational analysis using SPSS 18.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn anaerobiosis, the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is able to produce H2 gas. Electrons mainly derive from mobilization of internal reserves or from water through biophotolysis. However, the exact mechanisms triggering this process are still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Novosphingobium sp. strain PP1Y is a marine α-proteobacterium adapted to grow at the water/fuel oil interface. It exploits the aromatic fraction of fuel oils as a carbon and energy source.
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