Dermatomycosis Caused by Paranannizziopsis australasiensis in Nonnative Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) Captured in Central Florida, USA.

Emergent fungal pathogens in herpetofauna are a concern in both wild and captive populations. We diagnosed dermatomycosis by Paranannizziopsis australasiensis in two panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) and suspected it in eight others captured from an established free-living nonnative population in Florida, USA. Chameleons developed skin lesions following recent exposure to cold weather conditions while housed in captivity, approximately 10 mo after capture and 12 wk after being placed in outdoor enclosures.

Conservative management versus systematic suture of isolated vaginal or first-degree perineal tears after delivery: A preliminary randomized efficacy trial.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the preliminary efficacy and safety of conservative management compared with systematic suture in isolated vaginal or first-degree perineal tears after birth.

Methods: We conducted a preliminary efficacy, open-label, randomized, controlled, and prospective trial. This study implemented Simon's 2-step plan (interim analysis and final analysis) to test the success rate of the digital compression strategy group.

Targeting glioblastoma stem cells: The first step of photodynamic therapy.

Glioblastoma is one of the most malignant types of brain cancer. Evidence suggests that within gliomas there is a small subpopulation of cells with the capacity for self-renewal, called glioma stem cells. These cells could be responsible for tumorigenesis, chemo and radioresistance, and finally for the recurrence of the tumor.

Prospective observational study on the characteristics of eosinophilic esophagitis in southeast Spain.

Introduction: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic esophageal atopic disease because sensitization to aeroallergens and foods allergens is very common.

Objectives: This study is the first work that studies multiple characteristics of EoE in the southeast of Spain to know whether EoE in the patients of this region is similar to that of other regions of Spain in terms of demography, symptoms, and atopic characteristics.

Method: It is an observational prospective study of patients diagnosed with EoE at Granada (Spain).

V-Y advancement flap to correct a perineal defect after an episiotomy dehiscence.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Episiotomy scar may be the site of complications and result in wound dehiscence in the long term. The aim of this video article was to describe the surgical steps required to repair a right perineal defect after episiotomy using a V-Y advancement flap.

Method: Our patient had an episiotomy dehiscence that had already benefited from an end-to-end repair, but the perineal defect recurred.

Understanding the glioblastoma tumor biology to optimize photodynamic therapy: From molecular to cellular events.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has recently gained attention as an alternative treatment of malignant gliomas. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent within tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Conventional treatments for this CNS tumor include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Isolation and initial characterization of human glioblastoma cells resistant to photodynamic therapy.

Glioblastoma is the most severe form of brain cancer. Despite multimodal therapy combining surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, prognosis of patients is dismal. It has been observed that the surgical resection guided by photosensitizer fluorescence followed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) prolongs the average survival in patients with glioblastoma.

Small Ones to Fight a Big Problem-Intervention of Cancer Metastasis by Small Molecules.

Metastasis represents the most lethal attribute of cancer and critically limits successful therapies in many tumor entities. The clinical need is defined by the fact that all cancer patients, who have or who will develop distant metastasis, will experience shorter survival. Thus, the ultimate goal in cancer therapy is the restriction of solid cancer metastasis by novel molecularly targeted small molecule based therapies.

The mediating role of sport self-motivation between basic psychological needs satisfaction and athlete engagement.

Background: Engagement could constitute a frame of reference for promoting positive experiences in sport, hence the importance of learning about what precedes it in order to promote its development. This study was conducted to examine the role of self-motivation as a mediator between basic psychological needs satisfaction and athlete engagement.

Method: A sample of 426 male and female athletes from different sports were asked to complete three questionnaires measuring each of the study variables: The Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale, the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire and the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire.

Preliminary Empirical Validation of the "Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale" With a Sample of Spanish Athletes.

The theory of self-determination establishes the existence of three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relationship). If these needs are satisfied, optimal personal well-being will be achieved. The (BNSSS) is a measurement developed to evaluate these needs within the sporting context.

Molecular markers of oocyte differentiation in European eel during hormonally induced oogenesis.

Reproduction in captivity is a key study issue in Anguilla anguilla as a possible solution for its dwindling population. Understanding the mechanisms controlling the production of ribosomal building blocks during artificially induced oocyte maturation could be particularly interesting. Transcription levels of ribosomal biogenesis associated genes could be used as markers to monitor oogenesis.

Nuclear and membrane progestin receptors in the European eel: Characterization and expression in vivo through spermatogenesis.

Characterization of all the progestin receptor genes (PRs) found in the European eel has been performed. There were five membrane PRs (mPRs): mPRα (alpha), mPRAL1 (alpha-like1), mPRAL2 (alpha-like2), mPRγ (gamma), mPRδ (delta) and two nuclear PRs (nPRs or PGRs): pgr1 and pgr2. In silico studies showed that the C and E(F) domains of Pgr are well conserved among vertebrates whereas the A/B domain is not.

Role of potassium and pH on the initiation of sperm motility in the European eel.

The role of potassium from the seminal plasma and/or the activation media was examined by selectively removing K from this media, and by testing the use of K channel inhibitors and a K-ionophore. Sperm motility was measured using a CASA system, intracellular K and pH were measured by flow cytometry, and sperm head area was measured by ASMA: Automated Sperm Morphometry Analyses. Sperm motility was notably inhibited by the removal of K from the seminal plasma and by treatment with the K ionophore valinomycin.

The expression of nuclear and membrane estrogen receptors in the European eel throughout spermatogenesis.

Estradiol (E) can bind to nuclear estrogen receptors (ESR) or membrane estrogen receptors (GPER). While mammals possess two nuclear ESRs and one membrane GPER, the European eel, like most other teleosts, has three nuclear ESRs and two membrane GPERs, as the result of a teleost specific genome duplication. In the current study, the expression of the three nuclear ESRs (ESR1, ESR2a and ESR2b) and the two membrane GPERs (GPERa and GPERb) in the brain-pituitary-gonad (BPG) axis of the European eel was measured, throughout spermatogenesis.

Antecedents and consequences of burnout in athletes: Perceived stress and depression.

: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among perceived stress, burnout and depression in a sample of athletes. It was hypothesized that stress is an antecedent of burnout and depression a possible consequence of both stress and burnout. : A sample of 453 athletes participated in the study.

A comparison of techniques for studying oogenesis in the European eel Anguilla anguilla.

A multi-technique approach was used to study the changes occurring in European eel Anguilla anguilla ovaries during hormonally-induced vitellogenesis. Aside from classic techniques used to monitor the vitellogenic process, such as ovary histology, fat content analysis, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and vitellogenin enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a new technique, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, was used to analyse A. anguilla ovaries.

Development of sperm vitrification protocols for freshwater fish (Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis) and marine fish (European eel, Anguilla anguilla).

Vitrification was successfully applied to the sperm of two fish species, the freshwater Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) and marine European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Sperm was collected, diluted in species-specific non-activating media and cryoprotectants and vitrified by plunging directly into liquid nitrogen without pre-cooling in its vapor. Progressive motility of fresh and vitrified-thawed sperm was evaluated with computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).

Sodium affects the sperm motility in the European eel.

The role of seminal plasma sodium and activation media sodium on sperm motility was examined by selectively removing the element from these two media, in European eel sperm. Sperm size (sperm head area) was also measured using an ASMA (Automated Sperm Morphometry Analyses) system, in the different conditions. Intracellular sodium [Na(+)]i was quantitatively analyzed by first time in the spermatozoa from a marine fish species.

Temperature modulates testis steroidogenesis in European eel.

This study evaluates the effects of temperature on hCG-induced spermatogenesis in European eel (Anguilla anguilla), subjected to three thermal regimes: T10: 10°C (first 4weeks), 15°C (next 3weeks) and 20°C (last 6weeks); T15: 15°C (first 4weeks) and 20°C (last 9weeks); and T20: constant 20°C for the duration of the experiment. At 10°C, maturation stopped in the A spermatogonial stage (SPG1), and no further maturation was observed until the temperature was ≥15°C. With the aim of explaining these results, the influence of temperature on steroidogenic enzyme gene expression and steroid synthesis was tested.

Role of calcium on the initiation of sperm motility in the European eel.

Sperm from European eel males treated with hCGrec was washed in a calcium free extender, and sperm motility was activated both in the presence (seawater, SW) and in the absence of calcium (NaCl+EDTA), and treated with calcium inhibitors or modulators. The sperm motility parameters were evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system, and changes in the [Ca(2+)]i fluorescence (and in [Na(+)]i in some cases) were evaluated by flow cytometry. After sperm motility was activated in a medium containing Ca(2+) (seawater, SW) the intracellular fluorescence emitted by Ca(2+) increased 4-6-fold compared to the levels in quiescent sperm.

Effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus on the expression of genes involved in European eel spermatogenesis.

Positive effects of probiotics on fish reproduction have been reported in several species. In the present study, 40 male European eels were weekly treated with recombinant hCG for 9 weeks and with three different concentrations (10(3), 10(5), and 10(6) CFU/mL) of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501 (Sinbyotec, Italy). The probiotics were daily added to the water from the sixth week of the hCG treatment.

Transcript levels of the soluble sperm factor protein phospholipase C zeta 1 (PLCζ1) increase through induced spermatogenesis in European eel.

Activation at fertilization of the vertebrate egg is triggered by Ca(2+) waves. Recent studies suggest the phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ), a sperm-specific protein, triggers egg activation by an IP3-mediated Ca(2+) release and allow Ca(2+) waves at fertilization. In the present study we cloned, characterized, and phylogenetically positioned the European eel PLCζ (PLCζ1).

Relationship between sperm quality parameters and the fatty acid composition of the muscle, liver and testis of European eel.

This study looks at the correlations that fatty acids have with different tissues in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) during hormonally-induced sexual maturation, with different sperm quality parameters. In order to evaluate the different dynamics of the use of fatty acids, a categorization of the results from each sperm quality parameter (volume, concentration, motility and velocity) was performed.