Creative music therapy in preterm infants effects cerebrovascular oxygenation and perfusion.

Creative music therapy (CMT) has been shown to promote the development of brain function and structure in preterm infants. We aimed to investigate the effect of CMT on cerebral oxygenation and perfusion to examine how the brain reacts to CMT. Absolute levels of cerebrovascular oxygen saturation (StO) were measured in clinically stable preterm-born neonates (n = 20, gestational age: ≥30 weeks and < 37 weeks) using two near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based tissue oximeters over the right prefrontal cortex and left auditory cortex.

Effects of antioxidant Bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide added to bovine semen cryopreservation medium on in vitro assessed morphofunctional sperm parameters.

This study investigated the impact of various Ge132 (Bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide) concentrations on frozen bovine semen. Ejaculates from three bulls were pooled and divided into six groups, each one with different Ge132 concentrations (0, 500, and 1000 μg/mL) and each group was incubated in different conditions (33°C for 30 min (D: D0, D500, and D1000), and the other was immediately cooled to 4°C (R: R0-control; R500 and R1000)). Thawed semen was evaluated for sperm characteristics by CASA and flow cytometer.

Effect of pre-treatment with deslorelin on the ovarian response of ewes superovulated with FSH.

This study evaluated the use of the GnRH agonist hormone, deslorelin, to control the follicular population before initiating multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) treatment. Twenty-four cross-bred Santa Inês ewes, aged between 2 and 4 years, were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 11) or a treated group (n = 13). All ewes received an intravaginal device containing 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate on day 0, and a new device on day 7, which remained in place until day 14.

Use of coenzyme Q-10 to improve the pregnancy rate in sheep.

One of the factors responsible for less pregnancy rates is the use of frozen semen in sheep due to the oxidative stress created by the process. The aim of this experiment was to test the effects of adding coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10) to the seminal extender on sperm quality and the pregnancy rate of sheep. In this study, ejaculates from eight Dorper rams of reproductive age were used and tested in four treatments: Control (pure BotuBov®), C1 (175 µM of CoQ10), C3 (350 µM of CoQ10), and C7 (700 µM of CoQ10).

The stress-responsive cytotoxic effect of diesel exhaust particles on lymphatic endothelial cells.

Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are very small (typically < 0.2 μm) fragments that have become major air pollutants. DEPs are comprised of a carbonaceous core surrounded by organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs.

The use of sodium caseinate in the freezing of sheep semen.

The aim of this study was to assess the addition of 2% sodium caseinate in a commercial egg yolk-based medium in frozen ovine semen. Eight Dorper males were used for the study. The ejaculate was divided into two portions and frozen without (G1) or with the addition of 2% sodium caseinate (G2).

Evaluation of pharmacological alternatives to reduce the pain and discomfort produced by electroejaculation in rams.

Electroejaculation (EE) represents the main technique for semen collection from domestic and wild animals independently of libido. However, the technique is associated with intense involuntary muscle contractions, vocalization, ataxia and lying down, caused by the electric stimulation of the nerves in the caudal epigastric region. These clinical manifestations represent important indicators of discomfort.

Proteomics approach reveals urinary markers for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffaloes.

This study aimed to compare urine proteomics from non- and pregnant buffaloes in order to identify potential biomarkers of early pregnancy. Forty-four females underwent hormonal ovulation synchronization and were randomly divided into two experimental groups: inseminated (n = 30) and non-inseminated (n = 14). The pregnant females were further divided into two groups: pregnant at Day 12 (P12; n = 8) and at Day 18 (P18; n = 8) post-ovulation.

Uterine secretome: What do the proteins say about maternal-fetal communication in buffaloes?

The aim was to compare the UF proteomics of pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo during early pregnancy. Forty-four females were submitted to hormonal estrus synchronization and randomly divided into two groups: pregnant (n = 30) and non-pregnant (n = 14). The pregnant group was artificially inseminated and divided into a further two groups: P12 (n = 15) and P18 (n = 15).

Iodixanol supplementation in freezing extender improves the antioxidant capacity of semen.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing bovine semen freezing extender with different concentrations of iodixanol on post-thaw sperm characteristics. Six ejaculates of three Nellore bulls were pooled and diluted in commercial extender (BotuBov®) and then divided into 4 groups: control group (without adding iodixanol); groups G1.5, G3, or G6 according to the concentration of iodixanol solution (RedCushion®).

Two Types of Management for the Noninvasive Treatment of Pectus Excavatum in Neonatal Puppies-Case Reports.

Pectus excavatum is a deformity of the thorax characterized by ventrodorsal narrowing of the sternum bone and costal cartilages, which can lead to compression and cardiopulmonary alterations in dogs, presenting a high prevalence in brachycephalic breeds. The aim of this report was to describe two types of management for the noninvasive treatment of pectus excavatum in newborn puppies of the breeds French Bulldog and American Bully. The puppies presented dyspnea, cyanosis and substernal retraction during inspiration.

A Diversifiable Synthetic Platform for the Discovery of New Carbasugar SGLT2 Inhibitors Using Azide-Alkyne Click Chemistry.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are clinically available to control blood glucose levels in diabetic patients via an insulin-independent mechanism. It was found that some carbasugar analogs of known SGLT2 inhibitors exert a high inhibiting ability toward SGLT2 and have a prolonged blood glucose lowering effect. In this study, we designed new candidates of carbasugar SGLT2 inhibitor that can be synthesized using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) into an aromatic ring, which is a part of the pharmacophore at the final stage in the synthetic protocol for the easier discovery of superior SGLT2 inhibitors.

[Aortic Root Replacement with Patch Closure of Membranous Ventricular Septal Aneurysm].

Membranous ventricular septal aneurysm (MSA) complicated with annuloaortic ectasia (AAE) is rare in adults. Herein, we reported two successful surgical cases of this setting. One case is 50-year-old man with extensive infective endocarditis with underwent aortic coarctation repair in childhood.

[Successful Surgical Repair of Left Coronary Ostial Aneurysm after Modified Bentall Procedure Using the Carrel Patch Technique].

A 38-year-old woman underwent aortic root surgery using the Carrel patch technique at the age of 14 years for annuloaortic ectasia of 59 mm. Although there were no clinical findings of Marfan syndrome or bicuspid aortic valve, the pathological findings of the aortic aneurysmal wall showed degeneration of the media. After 24 years, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed an enlargement of the left coronary ostial aneurysm of 17 mm with saccular formation.

[Successful Surgical Repair for Adult Ebstein Disease Using Cone Reconstruction Combined with One and a Half Ventricle Repair].

A 67-year-old woman presented with dyspnea on effort and cyanosis due to massive tricuspid regurgitation and an atrial septal defect with right to left shunt. She was diagnosed with Ebstein disease at the age of 53 when she underwent surgery for varicose veins. Echocardiography showed the severe apical displacement of the septal and posterior leaflet.

Can blood progesterone concentration identify non-pregnant buffaloes to support oestrous resynchronization?

This study compared the plasma progesterone concentrations from pregnant and non-pregnant buffaloes to identify non-pregnant females and submit cows earlier to oestrous resynchronization. Forty-four multiparous mix-breed Murrah buffaloes were selected for the study. The cows were subjected to hormonal oestrous synchronization and separated into 4 groups, P12 (pregnant, n = 8) and P18 (n = 8) at 12 and 18 days post-insemination; NP12 (non-pregnant, n = 7) and NP18 (n = 7) at 23 and 29 days after the onset of synchronization, respectively.

The Combination of hCG and GnRH Analog to Hasten Ovulation in Mares Does not Change Luteal Function and Pregnancy Outcome in Embryo Recipient Mares.

Equine practitioners often prescribe the combined use of hCG and GnRH to hasten ovulation due to presumed synergistic effects. Therefore, this study aimed to test whether the combination of hCG and deslorelin acetate to hasten ovulation in mares would show any effect in inducing ovulation more efficiently than when either drug is used by itself, and to verify whether this association would affect progesterone concentrations; corpus luteum (CL) diameter and blood flow; and pregnancy outcome in recipient mares after embryo transfer (ET). Seventeen mares had the ovulation hastened (≥35 mm follicle) as follow: Control, 1 mL of 0.

[Total Arch Replacement with Brain Isolation Technique for Arch Aneurysm with Shaggy Aorta].

A shaggy aorta with a mobile atheromatous plaque in a thoracic lesion is considered a risk factor for cerebral infarction during aortic arch surgery. The brain isolation technique was introduced to prevent embolic stroke either by manipulating the severely atheromatous aorta, or by producing a sandblasting effect using the arterial jet in cardiopulmonary bypass. We performed total arch replacement with the aid of a brain isolation technique in four patients with aortic arch aneurysm complicated with a shaggy aorta between 2016 and 2020.

Serum Cortisol and Clinical Response to a Single Session of Whole-Body Vibration in Healthy Adult Dogs.

This study evaluated the serum cortisol response to a single session of whole-body vibration (WBV) in healthy adult dogs. Ten healthy adult medium dogs, females and males, aged between 24 and 48 months and with body weight between 10.1 and 17.

Spinal Cord Ischemia Following Endovascular Repair of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a rare but serious complication. Case 1 presented with ruptured AAA and shock and underwent emergency EVAR. The patient developed incomplete paraplegia 2 days following EVAR.

The distribution of macrophage subtypes and their relationship to bone morphogenetic protein 2 in calcified aortic valve stenosis.

Activation of the osteogenic signaling cascade (OSC) is thought to be involved in aortic valve stenosis. The aim of this study was to clarify the distribution of macrophage (M) subtypes in the calcified aortic valve and to clarify the relationship between osteoblast-like cells (OLC) and OSC activation. Thirty-six cases of calcified aortic valve were set as the calcification group, and six autopsy cases of aortic valve without pathological calcification comprised the noncalcification group.

Sodium caseinate improves longevity and fertility of frozen bull semen.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sodium caseinate added into freezing extender on the sperm parameters of cryopreserved bull semen and in vitro and in vivo fertility. One ejaculate of 30 bulls was used and processed using Botu-Bov (Botupharma, Botucatu, Brazil) with the addition of 20% egg yolk (EY) or 15% egg yolk with 2% sodium caseinate (EY + SC), subsequently submitted to freezing. Semen from both groups were evaluated immediately after thawing (T0) and after thermic stress at 37 °C for 90 min (T90), for sperm kinetics, by CASA method, and plasma membrane integrity (PMI), superoxide (O) concentration and high mitochondrial potential (HMP) by flow cytometry.

Maternal exposure to ibuprofen can affect the programming of the hypothalamus of the male offspring.

Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits the activity of cyclooxygenase enzyme, leading to reduction in Prostaglandin E (PGE) production. Due to the importance of PGE in promoting the brain masculinization in male fetus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of in utero and lactational exposure to ibuprofen and their late repercussions on reproductive parameters in male rats. Pregnant rats were exposed to ibuprofen (10, 30 or 60 mg/kg) or vehicle (control group) per gavage daily from gestational day 15 to day 21 after birth, and late reproductive effects were assessed during the sexual development and in the reproductive adult life in the male offspring.