Effects of Post-Training Blockade of GABA_BReceptor on Memory of Food Location and Expression of Synapsin I in the Hippocampus of Pigeons (<i>Columba livia</i>)

This study investigated effects of post-training treatment with phaclofen, GABAB receptor antagonist, on the memory of food location and on the expression of Synapsin I in the hippocampus of pigeons. Pigeons were trained in food location (7 sessions) and underwent post-training treatment with phaclofen (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.;PHAC), saline (SAL) or non-treated (NTR). Testing for memory persistence occurred 7 days after the last training session (PHACR, SALR and NTRR Groups). Pigeons treated with phaclofen had lower latency and higher correct choice values than saline and non-treated controls (p < 0.05). Analysis of hippocampus tissue indicated that Synapsin I-positive cell counts were higher in pigeons treated with phaclofen than in saline and non-treated controls (p < 0.05). Data indicated enhancement of consolidation and persistence of food location memory, and up-regulation of Synapsin I expression in the hippocampus of pigeons, which were related with post-training blockade of GABAB receptors.

Colon Adenocarcinoma Diagnosis in Human Samples by Multicontrast Nonlinear Optical Microscopy of Hematoxylin and Eosin Stained Histological Sections

Combined multimodal nonlinear optical (NLO) microscopies were used to detect and quantify morphological changes associated with stroma and epithelial transformation in colon cancer. Our findings provide complementary information about tissue microstructure, displaying distinctive patterns between normal and malignant human colon. Additionally, we have demonstrated the usefulness of using fixed tissues for the disease diagnostic and prognostic.?The present work provides a framework for using NLO techniques as a clinical diagnostic tool for human colon cancer. NLO metrics could be applied to other disorders, which are characterized by abnormal cell proliferation and collagen assembly.

Evaluation of Biochemical, Hematological and Histological Parameters in Non Diabetic and Diabetic Wistar Rats Fed with Monosodium Glutamate

The parenteral or oral administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been reported to have a deleterious effect on the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, which changes appetite control. This alteration in function may lead to obesity and disorders related to metabolic syndrome, such as alterations in carbohydrate metabolism (glucose and insulin resistance), dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease. This study evaluates the induction of metabolic alterations due to subchronic consumption of diets containing MSG at levels of 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0%. Initially the animals (newborn male Wistar rats) consumed the diets containing MSG for a period of 70 days. At the end of this period diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) and the rats maintained on the same diets for additional 21 days. The induction of diabetes is based on the susceptibility of diabetic animals to metabolic disorders. Methods capable of evaluating the entire metabolic profile of the diabetic condition were used, including biochemical tests and tests able to detect alterations in the organs usually affected by this disease. It was concluded that the consumption of diets containing up to 5.0% MSG did not change the studied parameters for both: diabetic or non-diabetic animals. The alterations observed in the diabetic animals mainly reflected metabolic changes caused by the disease and were not related to the administration of MSG.

Semen analysis in chronic bacterial prostatitis： diagnostic and therapeutic implications

The significance and diagnostic value of semen analysis in chronic bacterial prostatitis has been extensively debated and remains controversial. To investigate the diagnostic relevance of semen culture in the bacteriological workup of prostatitis patients, we retrospectively analyzed a clinical database of 696 symptomatic patients. All patients were routinely subjected to a four-glass test, followed by semen culture and analysis. This allowed to dissect from the database three different diagnostic scenarios, and to compare the ＇two-glass＇ pre-/post- massage test and the standard ＇four-glass＇ test with a ＇five-glass＇ test （four-glass plus post-VB3 semen culture）. The ＇five-glass＇ test showed 3.6- or 6.5-fold increases in relative sensitivity and lesser reductions （-13.2% or -14.7%） in relative specificity for traditional uropathogens （TUs） compared with the four-glass or two-glass test, respectively. The area under the ROC curve and Jouden＇s index were increased, whereas positive and negative likelihood ratios were lower than comparators, indicating that the ＇five-glass＇ assay may be superior in confirming the negative outcome of both standard tests. The five-, four-, and two-glass tests detected TUs （Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococci, etc.） in 120, 33, and 20 patients and unusual pathogens （Streptococci, other Gram-positive species, Mycoplasmata, and others） in 130, 56, and 45 patients, respectively. When patients were subjected to pharmacological treatment, including a combination of a fluoroquinolone and a macrolide, no differences in eradication rates were observed between groups diagnosed with different tests, irrespective of pathogen category. Eradication was associated with long-term sign/symptom remission; no significant intergroup differences in sign/symptom scores were observed throughout a 24-month off-therapy follow-up period. In conclusion, our data support the usefulness of semen analysis in the diagnostic workup ofprostatitis patients when this test is used to complement the four-glass Meares and Stamey test. Improvement of microbiological assays conveys important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

<i>Eleutherococcus senticosus</i>: Studies and effects

Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world. It is a plant widely used in folk and traditional medicines for cardiovascular, immune, nervous and endocrine systems, and according to the researchers, it has the ability to increase the non-specific resistance state, which characterizes it as an adaptogenic substance. There are different species of ginseng, such as the American, Chinese, Korean and Japanese ginseng;the Korean species (Panax ginseng) is being used for thousands of years as a tonic, prophylactic and “restorative” agent, with powerful antioxidant properties. For a long time, its use was empirical, because people used to believe that it was a panacea that promoted longevity, with beneficial effects for the treatment of physical fatigues. Nowadays, the active components of Eleutherococcus senticosus are well described, however, there are no data on the quantity of a certain class of these secondary compounds produced in each species. Although the Eleutherococcus senticosus extract may contain several substances, including vitamins, minerals, cellulose, and ethanol, the substances responsible for inducing various physiological responses are the eleutherosides (in the root) and ciwujianosides (in the leaf). As Eleutherococcus senticosus receives great attention by showing that its active components can provide protection against oxidative stress, among other benefits, contributing to health and the prevention and treatment of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. The purpose of this article is to describe the main, adverse and toxicological effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus recently related in the literature.

Instrumental and bio-monitoring of heavy metal and nanoparticle emissions from diesel engine exhaust in controlled environment

In the present article we characterized the emissions at the exhaust of a Common Rail （CR） diesel engine, representative of lightduty class, equipped with a catalyzed diesel particulate filter （CDPF） in controlled environment. The downstream exhausts were directly analyzed （for PM, CO, CO/, Oz, HCs, NOx） by infrared and electrochemical sensors, and SEM-EDS microscope; heavy metals were chemically analyzed using mosses and lichens in bags, and glass-fibre filters all exposed at the engine exhausts. The highest particle emission value was in the 7-54 nm size range; the peak concentration rose until one order of magnitude for the highest load and speed. Particle composition was mainly carbonaceous, associated to noticeable amounts of Fe and silica fibres. Moreover, the content of Cu, Fe, Na, Ni and Zn in both moss and lichen, and of A1 and Cr in moss, was significantly increased. Glass-fibre filters were significantly enriched in A1, B, Ba, Cu, Fe, Na, and Zn. The role of diesel engines as source of carbonaceous nanoparticles has been confirmed, while further investigations in controlled environment are needed to test the catalytic muffler as a possible source of silica fibres considered very hazardous for human health.

Comparison of the systemic action of electroacupuncture and laserpuncture in experimental injuries on the back skin of Wistar rats(Rattus novergicus)

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the systemic action of electroacupuncture and laserpuncture in the repair of excisional cutaneous injuries on the back of adult female Wistar rats.METHODS:Ninety animals were divided into three experimental groups:C-control;E-treated with electroacupuncture[acupoints:Feishu(BL13),Geshu(BL17),Zusanli(ST36)];L-treated with laserpuncture(same acupoints)and euthanized on the 7 th,14 th and 21 st days for tissue removal and preparation for histomorphometric and biochemical(dosages,zymography and Western blotting)analysis.RESULTS:The number of fibroblasts in the E and L groups presented higher values than the C on the14 th and 21 st days.The number of granulocytes was lower than C on the 21 st day in groups E and L.The total number of newly formed vessels increased on the 21 st day and was higher in both treatments when compared to C.The birefringent collagen fibers detected on the 21 st day was lower in groups E and L than group C.The glycosaminoglycans and hydroxyproline amount was similar among groups throughout the experimental period.The active isoform of matrixmetallo proteinase(MMP)-2 and the latent isoform of MMP-9 did not show any differences among all groups and experimental periods.The amount of collagenⅠpresented higher values in the L group on the 14 th day and in the E and L groups on the 21 st day.For typeⅢcollagen,groups E and L presented values lower than C in all experimental periods.The amount of transforming growth factor-β1 in the E and L groups showed higher amounts than C on the 7 th day and lower on the 14 th and 21 st days.For vascular endothelial growth factor,E and L groups presented similar and lower values than C on the 7 th and 14 th days,respectively,and similar on the 21 st day.CONCLUSION:The therapies evaluated in this article stimulated fibroblast proliferation,neoangiogenesis and altered the reorganization of collagen fibers in the repair of excisional injuries in female adult rats.

Electromagnetic Stimulation Combined with Aloe vera Increases Collagen Reorganization in Burn Repair

Objectives： Burns are shown as a clinical problem for their severity and multiple complications due to the time required to heal. Therapies that improve their healing are of great importance, especially for being minimally invasive, of low cost and best performance, all related to the speed and quality of healing. This study investigated the effects of the magnetic electro stimulator Haihuá CD9 isolated or in association with Aloe vera in rats skin burns. Methods： Experimental groups （n = 30/group） were： （C） Carbopol gel; （F） A. vera/Carbopol gel; （H） Haihuá＋Carbopol gel; （H＋F） Haihuá＋A. vera/Carbopol gel. Samples were collected on the 7th, 14th, and 21st experimental days for structural and morphometric analysis, hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycans quantification, zymography for MMP-2 and MMP-9 and Western Blotting for TGF-β1, VEGF, Collagen I and III. Key findings： The expression of TGF-β1 in H＋F was increased on the 7th day and of MMP-9 on the 7th and 14th days. The expression of VEGF increased in the first experimental periods and decreased in the last for the treated groups. There was an increase in the fibroblasts and birefringent collagen fibers in groups treated with Haihuá isolated or in association with A. vera in all periods. The quantification of collagen I increased, while collagen III decreased in H＋F. The higher amount of GAGs and MMP-2 active isoform was detected in H and H＋F during all periods. Conclusions： Considering the results of the present study, electromagnetic stimulation in association with the A. vera extract promoted an increase in the number of fibroblasts, GAGs content, MMP-2 activity, the deposition and organization of collagen fibers, favoring the repair of injuries to second degree burns, and may also present therapeutic potential in this injury type.

Single-cell-resolution transcriptome map revealed novel genes involved in testicular germ cell progression and somatic cells specification in Chinese tongue sole with sex reversal

Female-to-male sex reversals(pseudomales)are common in lower vertebrates and have been found in natural populations,which is a concern under rapid changes in environmental conditions.Pseudomales can exhibit altered spermatogenesis.However,the regulatory mechanisms underlying pseudomale spermatogenesis remain unclear.Here,we characterized spermatogenesis in Chinese tongue sole(Cynoglossus semilaevis),a species with genetic and environmental sex determination,based on a highresolution single-cell RNA-seq atlas of cells derived from the testes of genotypic males and pseudomales.We identified five germ cell types and six somatic cell types and obtained a single-cell atlas of dynamic changes in gene expression during spermatogenesis in Chinese tongue sole,including alterations in pseudomales.We detected decreased levels of Ca^(2+)signaling pathway-related genes in spermatogonia,insufficient meiotic initiation in spermatocytes,and a malfunction of somatic niche cells in pseudomales.However,a cluster of CaSR genes and MAPK signaling factors were upregulated in undifferentiated spermatogonia of pseudomales.Additionally,we revealed that Z chromosome-specific genes,such as piwil2,dhx37,and ehmt1,were important for spermatogenesis.These results improve our understanding of reproduction after female-to-male sex-reversal and provide new insights into the adaptability of reproductive strategies in lower vertebrates.

Sex Difference in Lactate Production by Adipocytes from Lean Humans

Lactate is an anaerobic metabolite produced in the absence of an adequate O2 supply. Although for a long time considered to be a waste product of glycolysis resulting from hypoxia, lactate is, in fact, an important source of glucose and also a gluconeogenic precursor, having a role in metabolic and endocrine signaling. Lactate is produced by adipocytes and muscle cells. Objectives: In this study, we investigated the sex differences in lactate production by adipocytes isolated from lean human visceral adipose tissue. Main Methods: The experiments described were done using adipocytes isolated from adipose tissue of lean men and women. Adipocytes were isolated following Rodbell procedure, with modifications, for posterior analysis of glycerol and lactate production. Results: Morphometric analysis revealed no significant differences in the size of adipocytes from men and women (diameter: men: 172 ± 24 μm vs. women: 160 ± 16 μm, n = 4 and 10, respectively). Basal glycerol production was significantly higher in adipocytes from men compared to women (0.34 ± 0.06 vs. 0.16 ± 0.01 μmol/106 cells/60 min;mean ± SEM, n = 7 and 4, respectively;p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in basal lactate production (men: 0.1 ± 0.01 μmol/10 cells/60 min vs. women: 0.12 ± 0.02 μmol/10 cells/60 min). However, when stimulated by norepinephrine, adipocytes from women produced more lactate than adipocytes from men. Female adipocytes also produced as much lactate as glycerol, whereas male adipocytes produced three times more glycerol than lactate. The intracellular mechanisms responsible for this sex difference in lactate production during norepinephrine-stimulated lipolysis remain to be identified.

Sex ratio variation and sex determination in the mallee dragon Ctenophorus fordi

Recent evidence suggests that many Australian agamids show temperature-dependent sex determination(TSD)with variation in sex determining mechanisms among closely related taxa.However,as shown in other vertebrates,sex ratios can also be influenced by genetic or phenotypic differences among females in their propensity to produce sons or daughters,and these influences might confound any thermal effects of incubation per se.To address these issues,we investigated the determinants of sex ratios in the mallee dragon Ctenophorus fordi,together with a detailed analysis of karyotypes.There was no detectable variation in sex ratios arising from variation among females,clutches or incubation temperatures,which might indicate genetic sex determination for this species.However,there was no evidence of cytologically distinct sex chromosomes using standard banding techniques.The sex ratio pattern in C.fordi strongly contrasts with the results for the congener Ctenophorus pictus,where sex ratios show variation among females.Thus,Australian agamids offer promising opportunities to address fundamental issues in sex ratio biology.

Nitric oxide plays a key role in the suppressive activity of tolerogenic dendritic cells

Tolerogenic dendritic cells （DCs） are widely studied for their possible use in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, such as autoimmune diseases. One of the obstacles for the use of this cell-based therapy is the characterization of drugs that are able to modulate DCs. We have previously shown that chloroquine （CQ）, an antimalarial agent, has the ability to modulate DCs towards a tolerogenic phenotype.1 These tolerogenic DCs are able to suppress the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE）, a T cell-driven mouse model of human multiple sclerosis. In addition, several studies have proposed that nitric oxide （NO） plays a major role in the dif- ferentiation of regulatory T cells （Tregs） and the suppression of Thl/Th17 cells.2＂3 However, little is known about the role of DC-derived NO in the modulation of inflammatory auto- immune responses. Thus, we aimed to evaluate whether NO plays a role in the tolerogenic activity of CQ-treated DCs （CQ- DCs）. We found that CQ induces DC production of NO and expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase （IDO）, as well as inducible nitric oxide syrtthase （iNOS）.

The repertoire of germline variants in patients with early-onset rectal cancer

Dear Editor,The incidence of rectal cancer has increased in patients younger than 50 years old during the last decade.It is well established that young age at cancer onset is a hallmark of hereditary cancer.The prevalence of germline variants among early-onset rectal cancer(EORC)patients is largely unexplored.Here,we aimed to determine the spectrum of germline variants and their clinical impact in EORC patients diagnosed at age 40 or younger.We investigated 71 EORC patients(Supplementary Table S1),one of the largest cohorts to date,using a customized panel with 93 genes(Supplementary Table S2).