Strategies to increase circulating progesterone in late metestrus and early diestrus in recipient dairy heifers and cows: A focus on induction of accessory corpus luteum formation.

The capacity of recipients to support transferred embryos is a challenge for dairy cattle production systems. This review explores methods for increasing P4 to improve early pregnancy establishment in dairy cattle. A key aspect of P4 supplementation during the critical first weeks of pregnancy is its correlation with successful embryo elongation.

Effect of inducing accessory corpus luteum formation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin on the day of embryo transfer on fertility of recipient dairy heifers and lactating cows.

The objective was to determine the effect of inducing an accessory corpus luteum (CL) using GnRH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the day of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryo transfer (ET) on pregnancy per ET (P/ET) and calving/ET in dairy heifers and lactating cows. Dairy heifers (11-15 mo of age; n = 1,547) and lactating cows (n = 1,480) detected in estrus by tail chalk (d 0) were used as recipients. Before ET, the presence of a CL was evaluated by transrectal palpation from d 6 to 9 of the estrous cycle.

Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin on the last day of a 5-day CIDR Synch protocol and 5 days later on circulating progesterone concentrations and luteal area in Holstein heifers.

The objective was to determine the effect of replacing GnRH with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the last day of a 5-d CIDR Synch protocol (d 0) and inducing accessory corpus luteum (CL) formation with hCG 5 d later (d 5) on serum progesterone (P4) concentrations and luteal dynamics in dairy heifers. Holstein heifers (n = 207) were synchronized with a 5-d controlled internal drug release (CIDR) Synch protocol (d -8: used CIDR inserted; d -3: CIDR removed and PGF). Heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments on d 0: control (G; n = 55), H (n = 50), GH (n = 53), and HH (n = 49).

Use of injectable progesterone to replace the intravaginal progesterone device on the ovulation synchronization protocol reduces the pregnancy rate in Bos indicus cows.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using different doses of injectable progesterone (P4i) in a new ovulation synchronization protocol in place of progesterone (P4)-releasing intravaginal devices in Bos indicus cows. For this, three experiments were carried out. To determine the P4-release curve (Experiment 1), 55 Bos indicus cows were distributed into 5 experimental groups for the administration of different doses of P4i at D0 (P4i60, n = 11; P4i105, n = 11; P4i150, n = 11; P4i195, n = 11 and P4i240, n = 11) and submitted to the ovulation synchronization protocol (D0: P4i + EB; D8: PGF2α + EC + eCG).

Geomorphometric environmental fragility of a watershed: a multicriteria spatial approach.

Knowledge and understanding of the functioning of watersheds is essential for constructing future scenarios that aim to minimize instability. However, new approaches including variables, methods, and techniques into traditional methodologies contribute to environmental planning and management of such territorial units. This study aims to propose a model based on a multicriterion spatial approach for the analysis of the geomorphometric environmental fragility of watersheds.

Fatty acid profiles of the plasma and follicular fluid mares fed a combination of linseed and salmon oil.

This study evaluated the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in circulating blood and in the ovarian follicular fluid of mares, after supplementation of the diet with linseed oil. Six Mangalarga Marchador mares, weighing 397.00±31.

Use of palm bran ( (L.) Salm-Dyck) in partial replacement of concentrate in maintenance equine diets - a pilot study.

Forage palm is extremely suitable as animal fodder due to its high tolerance to the climatic rigors of the semiarid region and its ability to withstand the harsh physical-chemical limitations of poor soils. Thus, in this study, the effects of the partial replacement (0 %, 5 %, 10 % and 15 % replacement) of a molasses- or oat-based commercial concentrate with forage palm bran (FPB) on the acceptability, apparent digestibility and glycemic response of horses at maintenance were evaluated. The ratio of concentrate to roughage (Tifton 85 hay) was , and the dry matter (DM) intake was 2 % of body weight (BW).

Influence of nanoparticulated chitosan on the biomodification of eroded dentin: clinical and photographic longitudinal analysis of restorations.

To evaluate the influence of the pre-treatment with 2.5% nanoparticulate chitosan (2.5% NanoChi) solution on eroded dentin before the restorative dental treatment.

Sleep and immunity in times of COVID-19.

Background: Analyze how the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and its social restriction measures affect sleep quality and the immunological system.

Methods: An integrative bibliographical review was carried out using scientific articles from the last five years, from the PUBMED databases, with the descriptors: Sleep; Quarantine; COVID-19; Immunity; Mental Health. Besides the books "Oxford textbook of sleep disorders", "Cellular and molecular immunology", and "Treaty of Infectology".

Antral follicular count and its relationship with ovarian volume, preantral follicle population and survival, oocyte meiotic progression and ultrastructure of matured bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between antral follicular count (AFC) and ovarian volume (OV), preantral follicular population and survival, meiotic progression and ultrastructure of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) after in vitro maturation. In experiment 1, the relationship between AFC and preantral follicle population and survival was evaluated by classical histology. In experiment 2, the relationship among AFC, OV, ability of oocytes to resume meiosis and ultrastructure of in vitro matured bovine COCs was studied.

Pre-TAI protocol strategies to increase reproductive efficiency in beef and dairy cows.

Ovulation synchronization protocols are well established in beef and dairy cows. However, the protocol response rate is around 70-90%. In beef cows, factors such as inadequate nutrition and calf presence negatively impact the response of progesterone (P4)/estradiol-based ovulation synchronization protocols by interfering with GnRH release and consequently reducing LH pulsatility and final follicular development.

Effects of vulvar width and antral follicle count on oocyte quality, in vitro embryo production and pregnancy rate in Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus cows.

It was hypothesized that Brahman cows have greater in vitro embryo production than Simmental cows, and that regardless of breed, antral follicle count (AFC) and vulvar width (VW) are positively associated with oocyte quality, embryo number and pregnancy rate. Brahman (Bos taurus indicus, n = 184) and Simmental (Bos taurus taurus, n = 99) cows were classified as having a large AFC (Brahman: ≥50, Simmental: ≥25); intermediate AFC (Brahman: >30 and ≤49; Simmental: >16 and <24) and small AFC (Brahman: <30, Simmental: ≤15). The VW was considered to be large (Brahman: >123 mm, Simmental: >80 mm); intermediate (Brahman: >102 mm and ≤123 mm; Simmental: >65 mm and ≤80 mm) and small (Brahman: ≤102 mm and Simmental: ≤65 mm).

Valuation methodology of laminar erosion potential using fuzzy inference systems in a Brazilian savanna.

This study presents an approach on the evaluation of potential laminar erosion in the Ribeirão Sucuri Grande watershed. It is located in the northeast of the state of Goiás, Brazil, a conservation area under strong anthropogenic pressure. A Mamdani fuzzy inference system was designed using linguistic variables, pertinence functions, and a set of rules associated to a traditional laminar erosion prediction model through the environmental conditioners slope, erodibility, and degree of soil protection.

Ovarian follicular development, hormonal and metabolic profile in prepubertal ewe lambs with moderate dietary restriction and lipid supplementation.

To evaluate the effects of moderate dietary restriction and lipid supplementation on ovarian follicular development, hormonal and metabolic profile, thirty-five prepuberal ewe lambs were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to treatments: ALUS (control) - unsupplemented-diet ad libitum (3.5% ether extract, n = 9); R-US - intake restricted to 85% of the ALUS diet (n = 9); AL-LS - lipid-supplemented-diet ad libitum (9.8% ether extract, n = 8); R-LS - intake restricted to 85% of the ALLS diet (n = 9), from 95 ± 8 days of age until estrus or 7 months of age.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), external morphometrics and fertility in Tabapuã cows.

The intense selection of characteristics related to animal performance may affect the reproductive efficiency of beef cows negatively. Selection for fertility along with production traits is, therefore, readily justifiable. The objective of the present study was to evaluate possible relationships among AFC, serum AMH concentrations and external morphometrics with reproductive efficiency in Tabapuã (a Brazilian Bos indicus beef breed) females.

Effects of frutalin on early follicle morphology, ultrastructure and gene expression in cultured goat ovarian cortical tissue.

Frutalin is a galactose-binding lectin that has an irreversible cytotoxic effect on HeLa cervical cancer cells, by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell proliferation. It was previously shown that after in vitro incubation, frutalin is internalized into HeLa cells nucleus, which indicates that frutalin apoptosis-inducing activity might be linked with its nuclear localization. Considering that drugs commonly used for cancer treatment have a deleterious effect on germ cells, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of frutalin on the activation, survival, ultrastructure and gene expression in follicles cultured within ovarian tissue.

Vulvar width and rima length as predictors of the ovarian follicular reserve in bovine females.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible relationships between morphometric characteristics of the bovine reproductive tract and measures of fertility, such as antral follicle counts (AFCs) and the number and quality of recovered cumulus oophorus complexes (COCs). First, the genital tracts of 360 abattoir Zebu/Holstein crossbred cows were studied. Rima vulvae length (RL), vulvar width (VW), ovarian size, pelvic fat, number of aspirated COCs, and AFCs were recorded.

Evaluation of Functional Outcomes after Stapes Surgery in Patients with Clinical Otosclerosis in a Teaching Institution.

Introduction Otosclerosis is a primary disease of the temporal bone that leads to stapes ankylosis. Hearing loss is the main symptom. Treatment includes surgery, medical treatment, and sound amplification therapy alone or in combination.

Quality of life of orthopedists in Mato Grosso do Sul.

Objective: Evaluate QOL and its implications for health care providers specialized in orthopedics.

Methods: In this quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study two questionnaires, World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-100) and sociodemographic, were sent to 117 orthopedic surgeons, with 29 doctor's response. Statistical analysis was performed using three different tests: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Student t-test, and Pearson's linear correlation.

Weight loss eight years after gastric bypass.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of banded Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in promoting weight loss after an eight-year follow-up.

Methods: Two hundred and eleven obese patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with banding by the same surgical team. The study design was longitudinal, prospective and descriptive.

ANTI-HERBIVORE PROTECTION BY MUTUALISTIC SPIDERS AND THE ROLE OF PLANT GLANDULAR TRICHOMES.

Although specific associations between spiders and particular types of plants have been reported for several taxonomic groups, their consequences for spiders and plants are still poorly understood. The most common South American lynx spiders, Peucetia flava and P. rubrolineata, live strictly associated with various plant species that have glandular trichomes.

Trait-mediated effects on flowers: artificial spiders deceive pollinators and decrease plant fitness.

Although predators can affect foraging behaviors of floral visitors, rarely is it known if these top-down effects of predators may cascade to plant fitness through trait-mediated interactions. In this study we manipulated artificial crab spiders on flowers of Rubus rosifolius to test the effects of predation risk on flower-visiting insects and strength of trait-mediated indirect effects to plant fitness. In addition, we tested which predator traits (e.

Rhabdomyolysis after bariatric surgery.

Background: Rhabdomyolysis is a potential threat after bariatric surgey. The severity ranges from asymptomatic elevations of serum muscle enzyme levels to life-threatening cases associated with muscle necrosis, compartment syndrome, acute renal failure and cardiac arrest.

Methods: We studied 98 consecutive obese patients who underwent primary uncomplicated bariatric surgery during a 1-year period.

Sleep habits, sleepiness and accidents among truck drivers.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of sleep, shift work, alcohol and psychostimulant drug use, and the prevalence of accidents among truck drivers.

Method: Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Student t, chi-square, Pearson and Fisher tests.