Interactions between Soil Bacterial Diversity and Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Soybean Plants.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are an important group of pests causing economic losses in agriculture worldwide. Among the plant-parasitic nematodes, the root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) and root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) are considered the two most important ones affecting soybeans. In general, they damage soybean roots, causing a reduction of about one-third in productivity. The soil microbial community can exert a suppressive effect on the parasitism of plant-parasitic nematodes. Here, we investigated the effects of soil bacterial diversity on Meloidogyne javanica (Meloidogyne-assay) and Pratylenchus brachyurus (Pratylenchus-assay) suppression by manipulating microbial diversity using the dilution-to-extinction approach in two independent experiments under controlled conditions. Furthermore, we recorded the changes in the soil microbial community induced by plant-parasitic nematode infection. In Meloidogyne-assay, microbial diversity reduced the population density of M. javanica and improved plant performance. In Pratylenchus-assay, microbial diversity sustained the performance of soybean plants even at high levels of P. brachyurus parasitism. Each nematode population affected the relative abundance of different bacterial genera and altered the core microbiome of key groups within the bacterial community. Our findings provide fundamental insights into the interactions between soil bacterial diversity and plant-parasitic nematodes in soybean plants. IMPORTANCE Root-knot and root-lesion nematodes cause losses of billions of dollars every year to agriculture worldwide. Traditionally, they are controlled by using chemical nematicides, which in general have a negative impact on the environment and human health. Fortunately, the soil microbial community may suppress these pests, acting as an environmentally friendly alternative to control nematodes. However, the effects of soil microbial diversity on the parasitism of plant-parasitic nematodes still poorly understood. In this study, we provide fundamental insight into the interactions between soil bacterial diversity and plant-parasitic nematodes in soybean plants, which may be useful for the development of new strategies to control these phytopathogens.

Predicting landscape-scale biodiversity recovery by natural tropical forest regrowth.

Natural forest regrowth is a cost-effective, nature-based solution for biodiversity recovery, yet different socioenvironmental factors can lead to variable outcomes. A critical knowledge gap in forest restoration planning is how to predict where natural forest regrowth is likely to lead to high levels of biodiversity recovery, which is an indicator of conservation value and the potential provisioning of diverse ecosystem services. We sought to predict and map landscape-scale recovery of species richness and total abundance of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants in tropical and subtropical second-growth forests to inform spatial restoration planning. First, we conducted a global meta-analysis to quantify the extent to which recovery of species richness and total abundance in second-growth forests deviated from biodiversity values in reference old-growth forests in the same landscape. Second, we employed a machine-learning algorithm and a comprehensive set of socioenvironmental factors to spatially predict landscape-scale deviation and map it. Models explained on average 34% of observed variance in recovery (range 9-51%). Landscape-scale biodiversity recovery in second-growth forests was spatially predicted based on socioenvironmental landscape factors (human demography, land use and cover, anthropogenic and natural disturbance, ecosystem productivity, and topography and soil chemistry); was significantly higher for species richness than for total abundance for vertebrates (median range-adjusted predicted deviation 0.09 vs. 0.34) and invertebrates (0.2 vs. 0.35) but not for plants (which showed a similar recovery for both metrics [0.24 vs. 0.25]); and was positively correlated for total abundance of plant and vertebrate species (Pearson r = 0.45, p = 0.001). Our approach can help identify tropical and subtropical forest landscapes with high potential for biodiversity recovery through natural forest regrowth.

Predicción de la Recuperación de la Biodiversidad a Escala de Paisaje según la Regeneración Natural del Bosque Tropical Resumen La regeneración natural del bosque es una solución rentable para la recuperación de la biodiversidad basada en la naturaleza, sin embargo, los diferentes factores socioambientales pueden derivar en resultados variables. Cómo predecir la ubicación en donde la regeneración natural del bosque recuperará los niveles de biodiversidad, los cuales son un indicador del valor de la conservación y un suministro potencial de diferentes servicios ambientales, es un vacío de conocimiento importante en la planeación de la restauración forestal. Buscamos predecir y mapear la recuperación a escala de paisaje de la riqueza de especies y la abundancia total de vertebrados, invertebrados y plantas en bosques tropicales y subtropicales de segundo crecimiento para guiar la planeación de la restauración. Primero, realizamos un metaanálisis mundial para cuantificar la medida a la que se desvió la recuperación de la riqueza y la abundancia total de especies en los bosques de segundo crecimiento de los valores de biodiversidad en los bosques antiguos referenciales en el mismo paisaje. Después, utilizamos un algoritmo de aprendizaje automático y un conjunto integral de factores socioambientales para predecir espacialmente la desviación a escala de paisaje para después mapearla. Los modelos explicaron en promedio el 34% de la varianza observada en la recuperación (rango de 9-51%). La recuperación de la biodiversidad a escala de paisaje en los bosques de segundo crecimiento pudo predecirse espacialmente con base en los factores socioambientales del paisaje (demografía humana, uso y cobertura del suelo, alteraciones naturales y antropogénicas, productividad del ecosistema, tipo de topografía y de suelo); fue significativamente más alta para la riqueza de especies que para la abundancia total de vertebrados (desviación media pronosticada ajustada al rango de 0.09 versus 0.34) e invertebrados (0.2 versus 0.35) pero no para las plantas (las cuales mostraron una recuperación similar para ambas medidas [0.24 versus 0.25]); y tuvo una correlación positiva para la abundancia de especies de plantas y vertebrados (Pearson r =0.45, p=0.001). Nuestra estrategia puede ayudar a identificar los paisajes de bosques tropicales y subtropicales con un potencial alto para la recuperación de la biodiversidad por medio de la regeneración natural del bosque.

Laparoscopy assisted abomasal cannulation in cadavers of bovine fetuses.

BACKGROUND: Due to the complexity of ruminant digestion, cannulation of organs of the digestive tract has been carried out in order to advance the understanding of digestive physiology, nutrient degradability, gastrointestinal diseases and biotechnological research. The abomasal cannulation is interesting for nutritional studies, especially in suckling calves, to obtain fluid and abomasal content, evaluation of abomasal flow and function, and infusion of nutrients and drugs when it is intended to reach high concentrations in the organ. Conventionally, access and cannulation of digestive organs of ruminants has been performed by laparotomy, a method often criticized and classified as cruel by some sectors related to ethics and animal welfare. The aim of this present study is to describe and standardize a minimally invasive by laparoscopy assisted abomasal cannulation in bovine fetuses (cadavers), which had been previously slaughtered by accident and would be discarded in local slaughterhouses. RESULTS: The abomasal cannulation technique was feasible, simple and did not present major difficulties. The surgical time for cannulation of the abomasum, from the insertion of the trocars to the completion of the technique with fixation of the organ to the abdominal wall, ranged from 9 to 27 min, with an average of 15.5 ± 6.62 min. CONCLUSIONS: The Laproscopic assisted abomasal cannulation in bovine fetuses was feasible and safe with minimal tissue injury to the abdominal wall and with short surgical time. More studies in the clinical routine related to minimally invasive abomasal content collection, abomasopexy and abomasotomy are required in order to demonstrate its impact and importance in bovine clinic.

Waveform Morphology as a Surrogate for ICP Monitoring: A Comparison Between an Invasive and a Noninvasive Method.

BACKGROUND: Although the placement of an intraventricular catheter remains the gold standard technique for measuring intracranial pressure (ICP), the method has several limitations. Therefore, noninvasive alternatives to ICP (ICPni) measurement are of great interest. The main objective of this study was to compare the correlation and agreement of wave morphology between ICP (standard intraventricular ICP monitoring) and a new ICPni monitor in patients admitted with stroke. The second objective was to estimate the discrimination of the noninvasive method to detect intracranial hypertension. METHODS: We prospectively collected data of adults admitted to an intensive care unit with subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or ischemic stroke in whom an invasive ICP monitor was placed. Measurements were simultaneously collected from two parameters [time-to-peak (TTP) and the ratio regarding the second and first peak of the ICP wave (P2/P1 ratio)] of ICP and ICPni wave morphology monitors (Brain4care). Intracranial hypertension was defined as an invasively measured sustained ICP > 20 mm Hg for at least 5 min. RESULTS: We studied 18 patients (subarachnoid hemorrhage = 14; intracerebral hemorrhage = 3; ischemic stroke = 1) on 60 occasions with a median age of 52 ± 14.3 years. A total of 197,400 waves (2495 min) from both ICP (standard ICP monitoring) and the ICPni monitor were sliced into 1-min-long segments, and we determined TTP and the P2/P1 ratio from the mean pulse. The median invasively measured ICP was 13 (9.8-16.2) mm Hg, and intracranial hypertension was present on 18 occasions (30%). The correlation and agreement between invasive and noninvasive methods for wave morphology were strong for the P2/P1 ratio and moderate for TTP using categoric (κ agreement 88.1% and 71.3%, respectively) and continuous (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.831 and 0.584, respectively) measures. There was a moderate but significant correlation with the mean ICP value (P2/P1 ratio r = 0.427; TTP r = 0.353; p < 0.001 for all) between noninvasive and invasive techniques. The areas under the curve to estimate intracranial hypertension were 0.786 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-0.93] for the P2/P1 ratio and 0.694 (95% CI 0.60-0.74) for TTP. CONCLUSIONS: The new ICPni wave morphology monitor showed a good agreement with the standard invasive method and an acceptable discriminatory power to detect intracranial hypertension. Clinical trial registration Trial registration: NCT05121155.

Evaluation of chemical restraint, isoflurane anesthesia and methadone or tramadol as preventive analgesia in spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca) subjected to laparoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and cardiopulmonary effects of ketamine-midazolam for chemical restraint, isoflurane anesthesia and tramadol or methadone as preventive analgesia in spotted pacas subjected to laparoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective placebo-controlled blinded trial. ANIMALS: A total of eight captive female Cuniculus paca weighing 9.3 ± 0.9 kg. METHODS: Animals were anesthetized on three occasions with 15 day intervals. Manually restrained animals were administered midazolam (0.5 mg kg-1) and ketamine (25 mg kg-1) intramuscularly. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane 30 minutes later. Tramadol (5 mg kg-1), methadone (0.5 mg kg-1) or saline (0.05 mL kg-1) were administered intramuscularly 15 minutes prior to laparoscopy. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), end-tidal CO2 partial pressure (Pe'CO2), end-tidal concentration of isoflurane (Fe'Iso), pH, PaO2, PaCO2, bicarbonate (HCO3-), anion gap (AG) and base excess (BE) were monitored after chemical restraint, anesthesia induction and at different laparoscopy stages. Postoperative pain was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) for 24 hours. Variables were compared using anova or Friedman test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Chemical restraint was effective in 92% of animals. Isoflurane anesthesia was effective; however, HR, MAP, pH and AG decreased, whereas Pe'CO2, PaO2, PaCO2, HCO3- and BE increased. MAP was stable with tramadol and methadone treatments; HR, Fe'Iso and postoperative VAS decreased. VAS was lower for a longer time with methadone treatment; SpO2 and AG decreased, whereas Pe'CO2, PaCO2 and HCO3- increased. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ketamine-midazolam provided satisfactory restraint. Isoflurane anesthesia for laparoscopy was effective but resulted in hypotension and respiratory acidosis. Tramadol and methadone reduced isoflurane requirements, provided postoperative analgesia and caused hypercapnia, with methadone causing severe respiratory depression. Thus, the anesthetic protocol is adequate for laparoscopy in Cuniculus paca; however, methadone should be avoided.

Ovum pick-up and in vitro maturation in spotted paca (Cuniculus paca-Linnaeus, 1766).

We tested FSHp, eCG and FSHp + eCG to establish ovum pick-up (OPU) and in vitro maturation method in spotted paca. Eight healthy adult females were subjected to each of four treatments to stimulate ovarian follicular growth. All females were subjected to a hormonal protocol using a single dose of 45 mg of injectable progesterone and single intramuscular injection of 0.075 mg d-cloprostenol on day 6. Ovarian stimulation was carried out as follows: in Group TFE (FSHp and eCG), animals were treated with a single dose of 80 mg of FSHp and 200 IU of eCG intramuscularly on day 6 after the application of progesterone; in Group TF (FSHp), they were treated with a single dose of 80 mg of FSHp intramuscularly on day 6 after application of progesterone; in Group treatment eCG, they were treated with 200 IU of eCG intramuscularly on day 6 after application of progesterone; and in Group TC (saline solution), 1 ml of saline solution was administered to control does. The OPU was performed between 22 and 26 hr after gonadotropin treatments. All recovered oocytes were placed into maturation media and incubated for 24 hr. There were no differences among the mean number of observed follicles, aspirated follicles and oocytes recovered per treatment. Oocyte maturation rates did not differ among groups, except, TF and treatment eCG oocytes had greater maturation rates than TC oocytes. In this study, gonadotropin administration failed to superovulate treated does and increase oocyte retrieval efficiency. Despite the feasibility of the procedure, further studies are needed to develop and refine hormonal protocols for oocyte recovery and in vitro maturation in this species.

Murine model for the evaluation of candiduria caused by Candida tropicalis from biofilm.

To evaluate the pathophysiology of catheter-associated candiduria, the bladders of female mice were infected with Candida tropicalis. One group was implanted with a catheter fragment with preformed biofilm by cystotomy technique, while another group received, in separate, a sterile catheter fragment and a correspondent yeast suspension. The bladder tissues were examined by histopathology and the quantity of colony forming units was evaluated. All the animals presented inflammation and the presence of C. tropicalis was observed in the tissue within 72 h of the introduction of biofilm, while 75% of the mice remained infected after 144 h. However, only 50% of animals from the group infected with C. tropicalis in suspension (planktonic yeasts), exhibited such signs of infection over time. The cystotomy technique is therefore viable in mice, and is an effective model for evaluating the pathogenesis of candiduria from catheter biofilms. The model revealed the potential of C. tropicalis infectivity and demonstrated more effective evasion of the host response in biofilm form than the planktonic yeast.

Epidemiological study of penile cancer in Pernambuco: experience of two reference centers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate and analyze the epidemiological profile of penile cancer in the state of Pernambuco and compare this information with other studies related to the issue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational and descriptive study of all patients with penile cancer in two reference centers in Pernambuco - Brazil, from 2007 to 2012. The variables studied were: age, region from the state, socio-economic situation, previous postectomy, smoking, time from the beginning of injury to diagnosis, staging of the primary lesion, tumor differentiation, treatment performed and death due to cancer. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 88. The highest prevalence was seen in those aged between 66 and 75 years. About the socio-economic situation, 67% worked informally and 64.8% received up to two minimum wages. Of all patients, 57% were married and 50% illiterate. The Metropolitan Region of Recife was the one with the highest number of cases, 41%. Tobacco smoking was reported in 48.9% of cases and prior postectomy in 3.4%. Most often it was observed an average period of six months from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis. And when the lesion was diagnosed, it usually had 2 to 5 cm (64.7%), stage T2 in 50% and well differentiated in 79.6%. Partial penectomy was performed in 76.1% and total in 17%. Death was observed in 27.3%. CONCLUSION: The clinical profile and epidemiological characteristics found in this study are similar to other national and international studies related to the issue, i.e., typical of underdeveloped or developing countries.

Successful Clozapine Rechallenge After Clozapine-Induced Severe Anemia: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Clozapine, a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA), is considered the gold standard medication to treat patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Despite its efficacy, clozapine is associated with adverse effects, notably neutropenia and agranulocytosis. Other hematological adverse effects are less common. Severe anemia is a rare adverse effect seldom reported in the literature and is typically associated with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). Nevertheless, the benefits of clozapine in managing TRS make rechallenge a reasonable option. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 35-year-old man with TRS, resistant to previous antipsychotics, who experienced severe anemia during clozapine treatment. An investigation for clozapine-induced anemia revealed PRCA on myelogram. After discontinuing clozapine, the patient's hemoglobin levels recovered. Subsequent treatments with olanzapine, zuclopenthixol, and aripiprazole proved ineffective, leading us to consider a clozapine rechallenge. The rechallenge, monitored for 58 days, resulted in improved psychiatric symptoms and stable hemoglobin levels. The patient remained stable during 6 months of follow-up, with no hematological changes. DISCUSSION: PRCA is a very rare adverse effect of clozapine. The cause of drug-induced PRCA is still unknown; for clozapine, there are no studies. Rechallenge after a severe and rare adverse effect is a complex decision. This case is the first to report a successful clozapine rechallenge following severe anemia without other blood dyscrasias, emphasizing the imperative need for close monitoring during the rechallenge process. Further study is warranted to understand the predictive factors for a successful outcome in clozapine rechallenges.

The role of intravenous thrombolysis before mechanical Thrombectomy: A subgroup analysis of the RESILIENT trial.

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials have recently evaluated the non-inferiority of direct thrombectomy versus intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) followed by endovascular therapy in anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke in patients eligible for IVT within 4.5 h from stroke onset with controversial results. We aimed to assess the effect of IVT on the clinical outcome of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in the RESILIENT trial. METHODS: RESILIENT was a randomized, prospective, multicenter, controlled trial assessing the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy versus medical treatment alone. A total of 221 patients were enrolled. The trial showed a substantial benefit of MT when added to medical management. All eligible patients received intravenous tPA within the 4.5-h-window. Ordinal logistic and binary regression analyses using intravenous tPA as an interaction term were performed with adjustments for potential confounders, including age, baseline NIHSS score, occlusion site, and ASPECTS. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Among 221 randomized patients (median NIHSS, 18 IQR [14-21]), 155 (70%) were treated with IVT. There was no difference in the mRS ordinal shift and frequency of functional independence between patients who received or not IV tPA; the odds ratio for the ordinal mRS shift was 2.63 [1.48-4.69] for the IVT group and 1.54 [0.63-3.74] for the no IVT group, with a p-value of 0.42. IVT also did not affect the frequency of good recanalization (TICI 2b or higher) and hemorrhagic transformation. CONCLUSIONS: The large effect size of MT on LVO outcomes was not significantly affected by IVT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: RESILIENT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02216643.

Data-driven discovery of the governing equations for transport in heterogeneous media by symbolic regression and stochastic optimization.

With advances in instrumentation and the tremendous increase in computational power, vast amounts of data are becoming available for many complex phenomena in macroscopically heterogeneous media, particularly those that involve flow and transport processes, which are problems of fundamental interest that occur in a wide variety of physical systems. The absence of a length scale beyond which such systems can be considered as homogeneous implies that the traditional volume or ensemble averaging of the equations of continuum mechanics over the heterogeneity is no longer valid and, therefore, the issue of discovering the governing equations for flow and transport processes is an open question. We propose a data-driven approach that uses stochastic optimization and symbolic regression to discover the governing equations for flow and transport processes in heterogeneous media. The data could be experimental or obtained by microscopic simulation. As an example, we discover the governing equation for anomalous diffusion on the critical percolation cluster at the percolation threshold, which is in the form of a fractional partial differential equation, and agrees with what has been proposed previously.

Prognostic utility of SOX2, STAT3, and CD44high/CD24low expression in penile cancer.

PURPOSE: Penile cancer has a high incidence in developing countries. The standard treatment is removal of the primary tumor and, when necessary, inguinal lymphadenectomy. Currently, the most important prognostic factor is lymph node disease, however, the available staging methods are inaccurate, and the high morbidity rate of lymphadenectomy has stimulated the study of predictive biomarkers of lymph node metastasis for selecting the patients who need lymphadenectomy. SOX2, STAT3 and CD44high/CD24low were chosen because they have provided good predictive results in other squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), although there are no studies for penile cancer. Thus, the expression of SOX2, STAT3, CD24+, and CD44+ in the penile cancer tumor microenvironment was investigated for correlation with tumor behavior in SCC. METHODS: This observational, prospective, translational study included 34 men and investigated the expression of SOX2, STAT3, CD24+, and CD44+ in tumor tissue by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The median age of the 38 evaluated patients with penile cancer was 61 (37-80) years. Most patients presented a tumor located on the glans penis (82.3%), with the usual histological type (79.4%) and 61.7% of patients presented stage pT2. No metastasis was found in 85.3% of patients. The expression of SOX2, STAT3 and CD44high/CD24low in the microenvironment of penile SCC treated with lymphadenectomy was significantly associated with aggressive tumor behavior (p < 0.05). STAT3 expression shows discrepant points when evaluated in context of angiolymphatic vascular invasion. CONCLUSION: SOX2, STAT3 and CD44high/CD24low in penile SCC can be indicators of prognosis, allowing for selection of more aggressive treatment when necessary.

Multimodal monitoring intracranial pressure by invasive and noninvasive means.

Although the placement of an intraventricular catheter remains the gold standard method for the diagnosis of intracranial hypertension (ICH), the technique has several limitations including but not limited to its invasiveness. Current noninvasive methods, however, still lack robust evidence to support their clinical use. We aimed to estimate, as an exploratory hypothesis generating analysis, the discriminative power of four noninvasive methods to diagnose ICH. We prospectively collected data from adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), and ischemic stroke (IS) in whom invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring had been placed. Measures were simultaneously collected from the following noninvasive methods: optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), pulsatility index (PI) using transcranial Doppler (TCD), a 5-point visual scale designed for brain Computed Tomography (CT), and two parameters (time-to-peak [TTP] and P2/P1 ratio) of a noninvasive ICP wave morphology monitor (Brain4Care[B4c]). ICH was defined as a sustained ICP > 20 mmHg for at least 5 min. We studied 18 patients (SAH = 14; ICH = 3; IS = 1) on 60 occasions with a mean age of 52 ± 14.3 years. All methods were recorded simultaneously, except for the CT, which was performed within 24 h of the other methods. The median ICP was 13 [9.8-16.2] mmHg, and intracranial hypertension was present on 18 occasions (30%). Median values from the noninvasive techniques were ONSD 4.9 [4.40-5.41] mm, PI 1.22 [1.04-1.43], CT scale 3 points [IQR: 3.0], P2/P1 ratio 1.16 [1.09-1.23], and TTP 0.215 [0.193-0.237]. There was a significant statistical correlation between all the noninvasive techniques and invasive ICP (ONSD, r = 0.29; PI, r = 0.62; CT, r = 0.21; P2/P1 ratio, r = 0.35; TTP, r = 0.35, p < 0.001 for all comparisons). The area under the curve (AUC) to estimate intracranial hypertension was 0.69 [CIs = 0.62-0.78] for the ONSD, 0.75 [95% CIs 0.69-0.83] for the PI, 0.64 [95%Cis 0.59-069] for CT, 0.79 [95% CIs 0.72-0.93] for P2/P1 ratio, and 0.69 [95% CIs 0.60-0.74] for TTP. When the various techniques were combined, an AUC of 0.86 [0.76-0.93]) was obtained. The best pair of methods was the TCD and B4cth an AUC of 0.80 (0.72-0.88). Noninvasive technique measurements correlate with ICP and have an acceptable discrimination ability in diagnosing ICH. The multimodal combination of PI (TCD) and wave morphology monitor may improve the ability of the noninvasive methods to diagnose ICH. The observed variability in non-invasive ICP estimations underscores the need for comprehensive investigations to elucidate the optimal method-application alignment across distinct clinical scenarios.

The coasting time affects the quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes in superstimulated ewes.

We hypothesized that the coasting time may be beneficial to the quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes recovered from live ewes, as reported in cattle. The present study assessed the effect of coasting times on the quantity and quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) in sheep. All ewes were subjected to the "Day 0 protocol", followed by an ovarian stimulation (80 mg of pFSH in three decreasing doses), varying only the coasting time [12 (G12), 36 (G36), or 60 h (G60]. In Experiment 1, data regarding follicular population was assessed. In Experiment 2, the COC quality was checked by their morphology, brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test, evaluation of chromatin condensation pattern, and oocyte diameter. In Experiment 3, genes related to oocyte developmental competence were evaluated in BCB + COCs. The oocytes in the G60 group had more (P < 0.05) large follicles than the other groups and oocytes with a greater diameter than the G12. Oocyte morphology was similar (P > 0.05) among groups, as well as the BCB + COCs quantity. The G60-oocytes presented a better (P < 0.05) configuration of chromatin condensation compared with the other groups and a greater (P < 0.05) gene expression of BMP15, MATER, ZAR1, and PTGS2 compared with G12, and PTGS2 and HAS2 compared with G36 group. In conclusion, 60 h of coasting time positively affects the quality of COCs recovered after subjecting ewes to the "Day 0 protocol" and ovarian superstimulation. Implementing the appropriate coasting time to a given protocol can positively impact the in vitro embryo production outcomes in sheep.

Potential of growth-promoting bacteria in maize (Zea mays L.) varies according to soil moisture.

Climate change has caused irregularities in water distribution, which affect the soil drying-wetting cycle and the development of economically important agricultural crops. Therefore, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) emerges as an efficient strategy to mitigate negative impacts on crop yield. We hypothesized that the use of PGPB (in consortium or not) had potential to promote maize (Zea mays L.) growth under a soil moisture gradient in both non-sterile and sterile soils. Thirty PGPB strains were characterized for direct plant growth-promotion and drought tolerance induction mechanisms and were used in two independent experiments. Four soil water contents were used to simulate a severe drought (30% of field capacity [FC]), moderate drought (50% of FC), no drought (80% of FC) and, finally, a water gradient comprising the three mentioned soil water contents (80%, 50%, and 30% of FC). Two bacteria strains (BS28-7 Arthrobacter sp. and BS43 Streptomyces alboflavus), in addition to three consortia (BC2, BC4 and BCV) stood out in maize growth performance in experiment 1 and were used in experiment 2. Overall, under moderate drought, inoculation with BS43 surpassed the control treatment in root dry mass and nutrient uptake. Considering the water gradient treatment (80-50-30% of FC), the greatest total biomass was found in the uninoculated treatment when compared to BS28-7, BC2, and BCV. The greatest development of Z. mays L. was only observed under constant water stress conditions in the presence of PGPB. This is the first report that demonstrated the negative effect of individual inoculation of Arthrobacter sp. and the consortium of this strain with Streptomyces alboflavus on the growth of Z. mays L. based on a soil moisture gradient; however, future studies are needed for further validation.

Clinical, epidemiological, and histopathological aspects of breast cancer in female dogs at Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro Veterinary Hospital.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological, and histopathological aspects of canine breast tumors at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro Veterinary Hospital (VH-UFRRJ) between April 2017 and October 2018. The study included 137 female canine dogs with mammary neoplasia who underwent a mastectomy. The animals were evaluated using a standard form that guided anamnesis and physical examination to assess the tumor's epidemiology, development, evolution, treatment choice, and disease prognosis. Furthermore, laboratory and imaging tests were performed on the animals to search for changes that suggested metastasis. The average age of the female dogs was 10 years, and mixed-breed dogs (33%) were the most affected, followed by poodles (21%). The inguinal (79%) and caudal abdominal (64%) breasts were the most affected. Approximately 26% of the animals were castrated, 32% had already reproduced throughout their lives, 30% had pseudocyesis, and only 8% used contraceptive methods. The majority were classified as stage I (33%) and stage III (39%) according to the Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) Classification System of Malignant Tumors. In 95 female dogs, 191 nodules were histopathologically evaluated, and 62% of these animals had at least one malignant tumor. Statistically, there was a direct association between tumor size and malignancy. However, other associations, such as age at diagnosis and the degree of malignancy, were not confirmed. Therefore, it can be concluded that tumor size is an important prognostic factor, with tumors >3 cm having an approximately 70% chance of being malignant.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e histopatológicos dos tumores de mama caninos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, no período de abril de 2017 a outubro de 2018. Contemplaram o estudo 137 fêmeas caninas com neoplasia mamária submetidas à mastectomia. As cadelas foram avaliadas utilizando-se uma ficha padrão que orientou a anamnese e exame físico com objetivo de avaliar a epidemiologia, o desenvolvimento e evolução do tumor, bem como escolha do tratamento e prognóstico da doença. Adicionalmente foram realizados exames laboratoriais e de imagem nas pacientes, em busca de alterações que sugerissem metástase. A idade média das cadelas foi 10 anos, os animais sem raça definida (33%) foram os mais afetados, seguidos pela raça Poodle (21%). As mamas inguinais (79%) e abdominais caudais (64%) foram as mais acometidas. Cerca de 26% das cadelas eram castradas, 32% das fêmeas já haviam se reproduzido ao longo da vida, 30% tiveram pseudociese, apenas 8% usaram métodos contraceptivos e a maioria foi classificada em estágio I (33%) e estágio III (39%), de acordo com o Sistema de Classificação de Tumores Malignos "Tumor-Node-Metastasis" (TNM - Tumor, Linfonodo, Metástase). O exame histopatológico foi realizado em 191 nódulos de 95 cadelas, 62% destas fêmeas possuíam pelo menos um nódulo maligno. Estatisticamente, houve associação direta entre o tamanho do tumor e sua malignidade. Outras associações como idade do diagnóstico e grau de malignidade não foram confirmadas. Conclui-se, portanto, que o tamanho do tumor é um importante fator prognóstico, uma vez que tumores maiores que 3 cm têm cerca de 70% de chance de serem malignos.

Comparison of preoperative fluid therapy protocols associated with inhalational or total intravenous anesthesia for anesthetic procedures in dogs with sepsis.

This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate different fluid therapy protocols associated with inhalational or total intravenous anesthesia in the cardiorespiratory stability of bitches with sepsis subjected to a surgical procedure to control the infectious focus. Thirty-two bitches diagnosed with pyometra and sepsis and treated at the University Veterinary Hospital between 2018 and 2019 were recruited. After admission, diagnosis, clinical, and laboratory evaluation, patients were randomly distributed into the following groups: propofol 5 (P[5]: preoperative restrictive fluid therapy-5mL/kg/h and intravenous general anesthesia); propofol 10 (P[10]: preoperative liberal fluid therapy-10mL/kg/h and intravenous general anesthesia); and isoflurane 5 (I[5]: preoperative restrictive fluid therapy-5mL/kg/h and inhalational general anesthesia). Lactate on admission (LAC1) and release (LAC2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), rectal temperature (RT), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and carbon dioxide extraction rate (EtCO2) were analyzed at PRE, T10, T20, T30, T40, T50, TEXT, and TDIS. Clearance of 20% of lactate occurred in 18 dogs, with the P[10] group displaying the best performance. There was no statistical difference in vasopressor requirements among the groups. Liberal fluid therapy showed greater cardiovascular stability than restrictive therapy in the perioperative period. Regarding general anesthesia, isoflurane showed greater cardiorespiratory stability than propofol during anesthetic maintenance. In conclusion, although the three proposed protocols are safe and there is no difference in their superiority, some observed changes may be relevant and considered when it is possible to individualize the therapy for the patient.

Este ensaio clínico randomizado teve a proposição de avaliar diferentes protocolos de fluidoterapia associados a anestesia inalatória ou total intravenosa, na estabilidade hemodinâmica de cadelas com sepse, submetidas a procedimento cirúrgico, para controle do foco infeccioso. Foram incluídas trinta e duas cadelas, com diagnóstico de piometra e sepse, atendidas em hospital veterinário universitário, no período de 2018 a 2019. Após admissão, diagnóstico, avaliação clínica e laboratoriais, os pacientes foram distribuídos de maneira aleatória nos grupos Propofol 5 (P[5]: fluidoterapia restritiva pré-operatória - 5mL/kg/h e anestesia geral intravenosa), Propofol 10 (P[10]: fluidoterapia liberal pré-operatória - 10mL/kg/h e anestesia geral intravenosa) e Isoflurano 5 (I[5]: fluidoterapia restritiva pré-operatória - 5mL/kg/h e anestesia geral inalatória). Foram analisados lactato na admissão (LAC1) e liberação (LAC2), frequências cardíacas (HR) e respiratória (RR), pressão arterial sistólica (SBP), temperatura retal (RT), saturação de oxigênio (SpO2) e taxa de extração de dióxido de carbono (EtCO2) nos seguintes momentos: PRE, T10, T20, T30, T40, T50, TEXT e TDIS. A depuração de 20% do lactato ocorreu em 18 cães, tendo o grupo P[10] o melhor desempenho. Não houve diferença estatística no requerimento de vasopressores entre os grupos. A fluidoterapia liberal apresentou maior estabilidade cardiovascular quando comparado com a restritiva no período perioperatório. Com relação a anestesia geral, o isoflurano apresentou maior estabilidade cardiorrespiratória que o propofol na manutenção anestésica. Nós concluímos que apesar de os três protocolos propostos serem seguros e sem diferença em superioridade entre eles, algumas alterações observadas podem ser relevantes e ponderadas quando for possível a individualização da terapêutica no paciente.

SerumCovid database: Description and preliminary analysis of serological COVID-19 diagnosis in healthcare workers.

Serological databases represent an important source of information to perceive COVID-19 impact on health professionals involved in combating the disease. This paper describes SerumCovid, a COVID-19 serological database focused on the diagnosis of health professionals, providing a preliminary analysis to contribute to the understanding of the antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2. The study population comprises 321 samples from 236 healthcare and frontline workers fighting COVID-19 in Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil. Samples were collected from at least six days of symptoms to more than 100 days. The used immunoenzymatic assays were Euroimmun Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA IgG and IgA. The most common gender in SerumCovid is female, while the most common age group is between 30 and 39 years old. However, no statistical differences were observed in either genders or age categories. The most reported symptoms were fatigue, headaches, and myalgia. Still, some subjects presented positive results for IgA after 130 days. Based on a temporal analysis, we have not identified general patterns as subjects presented high and low values of IgA and IgG with different evolution trends. Unexpectedly, for subjects with both serological tests, the outcome of IgA and IgG tests were the same (either positive or negative) for more than 80% of the samples. Therefore, SerumCovid helps better understand how COVID-19 affected healthcare and frontline workers, which increases knowledge about the infection and enables direct prevention actions.