Effects of a physical exercise programme on bodyweight, body condition score and chest, abdominal and thigh circumferences in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Research on the effects of physical exercise on canine body composition is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a physical exercise programme on bodyweight, body condition score (BCS) and chest, abdominal and thigh circumferences in dogs. Twenty-one healthy dogs of different breeds exercised together with their owners during an eight-week programme consisting of jogging and strength exercises. Standardised measurements were performed in triplicates with a measuring tape on standing dogs. Chest circumference was measured at three anatomical locations, abdomen at two and thigh at one. Data on bodyweight, BCS (9-point scale) and circumferences were analysed with mixed model repeated measures analyses to evaluate changes after the programme and effects of target distance. RESULTS: Seven dog owners choose a target distance of 2 km and 14 owners choose 5-10 km. Mean BCS decreased (P = 0.007) after the programme (5.1 ± 0.9 vs. 4.7 ± 0.6) but there was no effect of target distance. Almost all chest and abdominal circumference measurements decreased (P ≤ 0.007) with the 2 km group driving the reduction in chest circumference and the 5-10 km group driving the reduction in abdominal circumference. In contrast, thigh circumference (28.8 ± 0.4 vs. 30.2 ± 0.4) increased (P = 0.007) while bodyweight was maintained. There were positive correlations between BCS and abdominal/chest ratios before and after the programme (Pearson correlation; R square ≤ 0.43, P ≤ 0.0012) but the mean ratio remained constant. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated a redistribution between total body fat and muscle mass in body composition of normal weight to slightly overweight dogs after the physical exercise programme. The use of bodyweight alone was not a reliable evaluation method to complement the BCS assessment. However, repeated measurements of chest, abdominal and thigh circumference might aid in the assessment of body composition in dogs performing physical exercise. Further research should include a control group and objective evaluations of total body fat and lean mass, in order to investigate the effectiveness of physical exercise as a freestanding method for decreasing BCS and increasing muscle mass in overweight dogs.

Can thoraco-abdominal organ boundaries be accurately determined from X-ray and anthropometric surface scans? Implications for body armour system coverage and design.

To optimise soldier protection within body armour systems, knowledge of the boundaries of essential thoraco-abdominal organs is necessary to inform coverage requirements. However, existing methods of organ boundary identification are costly and time consuming, limiting widespread adoption for use on soldier populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel method of using 3D organ models to identify essential organ boundaries from low dose planar X-rays and 3D external surface scans of the human torso. The results revealed that, while possible to reconstruct 3D organs using template 3D organ models placed over X-ray images, the boundary data (relating to the size and position of each organ) obtained from the reconstructed organs differed significantly from MRI organ data. The magnitude of difference varied between organs. The most accurate anatomical boundaries were the left, right, and inferior boundaries of the heart, and lateral boundaries for the liver and spleen. Visual inspection of the data demonstrated that 11 of 18 organ models were successfully integrated within the 3D space of the participant's surface scan. These results suggest that, if this method is further refined and evaluated, it has potential to be used as a tool for estimating body armour coverage requirements.

Morphology of the pterothoracic musculature in Paraneoptera and its phylogenetic implication (Insecta: Neoptera).

Although the monophyly of Paraneoptera (=hemipteroid orders or Acercaria, composed of Psocodea, Thysanoptera and Hemiptera) has been widely accepted morphologically, the results from molecular phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses contradict this hypothesis. In particular, phylogenomic analyses provide strong bootstrap support for the sister group relationship between Psocodea and Holometabola, that is, paraphyly of Paraneoptera. Here, we examined the pterothoracic musculature of Paraneoptera, as well as a wide range of other neopterous insect orders, and analysed its phylogenetic implication. By using the synchrotron microcomputed tomography (µCT) and parsimony-based ancestral state reconstruction, several apomorphic conditions suggesting the monophyly of Paraneoptera, such as the absence of the II/IIItpm7, IIscm3, IIIspm2 and IIIscm3 muscles, were identified. In contrast, no characters supporting Psocodea + Holometabola were recovered from the thoracic muscles. These results provide additional support for the monophyly of Paraneoptera, together with the previously detected morphological apomorphies of the head, wing base, and abdomen.

The Sima de los Huesos thorax and lumbar spine: Selected traits and state-of-the-art.

Information on the evolution of the thorax and lumbar spine in the genus Homo is hampered by a limited fossil record due to the inherent fragility of vertebrae and ribs. Neandertals show significant metric and morphological differences in these two anatomical regions, when compared to Homo sapiens. Thus, the important fossil record from the Middle Pleistocene site of Sima de los Huesos (SH) not only offers important information on the evolution of these anatomical regions within the Neandertal lineage but also provides important clues to understand the evolution of these regions at the genus level. We present the current knowledge of the costal skeleton, and the thoracic and lumbar spine anatomy of the hominins found in Sima de los Huesos compared to that of Neandertals and modern humans. The current SH fossil record comprises 738 vertebral specimens representing a minimum of 70 cervical, 95 thoracic and 47 lumbar vertebrae, 652 rib fragments representing a minimum of 118 ribs, and 26 sternal fragments representing 4 sterna. The SH hominins exhibit a morphological pattern in their thorax and lumbar spine more similar to that of Neandertals than to that of H. sapiens, which is consistent with the phylogenetic position of these hominins. However, there are some differences between the SH hominins and Neandertals in these anatomical regions, primarily in the orientation of the lumbar transverse processes and in the robusticity of the second ribs. The presence of some but not all of the suite of Neandertal-derived features is consistent with the pattern found in the cranium and other postcranial regions of this population.

Covariation between the shape and mineralized tissues of the rib cross section in Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes and Sts 14.

OBJECTIVES: Studying rib torsion is crucial for understanding the evolution of the hominid ribcage. Interestingly, there are variables of the rib cross section that could be associated with rib torsion and, consequently, with the morphology of the thorax. The aim of this research is to conduct a comparative study of the shape and mineralized tissues of the rib cross section in different hominids to test for significant differences and, if possible, associate them to different thoracic morphotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consists of the rib cross sections at the midshaft taken from 10 Homo sapiens and 10 Pan troglodytes adult individuals, as well as from A. africanus Sts 14. The shape of these rib cross sections was quantified using geometric morphometrics, while the mineralized tissues were evaluated using the compartmentalization index. Subsequently, covariation between both parameters was tested by a Spearman's ρ test, a permutation test and a linear regression. RESULTS: Generally, P. troglodytes individuals exhibit rib cross sections that are rounder and more mineralized compared to those of H. sapiens. However, the covariation between both parameters was only observed in typical ribs (levels 3-10). Although covariation was not found in the rib cross sections of Sts 14, their parameters are closer to P. troglodytes. DISCUSSION: On the one hand, the differences observed in the rib cross sections between H. sapiens and P. troglodytes might be related to different degrees of rib torsion and, consequently, to different thoracic 3D configurations. These findings can be functionally explained by considering their distinct modes of breathing and locomotion. On the other hand, although the rib cross sections belonging to Sts 14 are more similar to those of P. troglodytes, previous publications determined that their overall morphology is closer to modern humans. This discrepancy could reflect a diversity of post-cranial adaptations in Australopithecus.

Thoracic cavity of the Shirazi cats: New insights using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Our study provided a comprehensive characterization of the thorax of Shirazi cats by comparing the relevant soft and bone windows of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with cross, sagittal and coronal sectional anatomy. We outlined the mediastinum and its anatomic relationships with the trachea, oesophagus, lungs, heart, cranial and caudal vena cavae, and other thoracic structures using the data series gathered from adult normal Shirazi cats. The cranial mediastinum extended from the thoracic inlet to the 4th intercostal space, the middle mediastinum extended from the 5th and 7th intercostal spaces and was occupied by the heart and large blood vessels and the caudal mediastinum extended as a short and narrow portion from the 8th intercostal space to the diaphragm. The contents of the mediastinum and its relationship with the lungs and diaphragm were clearly presented in coronal-sectional anatomy and CT slices. The diaphragm was clearly observed in the lung windows of the ventral thorax. Sagittal-sectional anatomy and CT clarified the thorax's architecture and its contents, with higher density in the soft windows. The distribution of thoracic vessels on cross- and coronal-contrast CT scans was clearly visible. In addition, MRI scans provided an excellent anatomic reference of the thorax with the help of cross, coronal and sagittal scans, especially in the heart and blood vessels. Our study provides a valuable atlas for the diagnosis of malformations of the thoracic structures and offers better assessments for helping veterinary radiologists and clinicians in diagnostic processes.

Relación entre dimensiones antropométricas de tronco y valores de espirometría / Association between anthropometric dimensions of trunk and spirometry indices

Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron primero evaluar la asociación de dimensiones antropométricas de tórax y tronco con índices espirométricos, segundo, ajustar una ecuación de predicción con dimensiones antropométricas de tronco y tercero, comparar nuestro modelo predictivo con dos ecuaciones diagnósticas. Se evaluaron 59 estudiantes universitarios entre 20 y 40 años, de ambos sexos, sin hábito tabáquico. Las variables consideradas fueron: edad, sexo, peso, estatura, diámetro transverso de tórax, diámetro anteroposterior de tórax, perímetro de tórax, altura de tórax, altura de tronco, flujo espiratorio máximo (FEM), volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo (VEF1) y capacidad vital forzada (CVF). Se utilizó el análisis de regresión múltiple para estimar los valores espirométricos en función de las variables demográficas y antropométricas. La CVF y el VEF1 tienen asociación lineal directa con el diámetro transverso de tórax, altura de tórax, perímetro de tórax y altura de tronco. Se ajustó una ecuación de regresión lineal múltiple que indicó que es posible estimar la CVF y el VEF11 en función de la altura de tronco y el perímetro de tórax para ambos sexos. Estas variables son capaces de explicar el 74 % de los valores de CVF y el 68 % de los valores de VEF1. Al comparar los valores obtenidos por nuestras ecuaciones predictivas con las ecuaciones de referencia nacional observamos que nuestros resultados son más cercanos a los de Quanjer et al. (2012) que a los de Knudson et al. (1983). La altura de tronco y el perímetro de tórax tienen asociación directa con el VEF1 y CVF y son buenos predictores del VEF1 y CVF en estudiantes universitarios. Nuestros valores estimados son más cercanos a las ecuaciones de Quanjer et al. (2012) en comparación a las estimaciones de Knudson (1983).

SUMMARY: The purposes of the present study were first to evaluate the association between anthropometric dimensions of the thorax and trunk with spirometric indices, second, to fit a prediction equation with anthropometric dimensions of the trunk, and third, to compare our predictive model with two diagnostic equations. Fifty-nine university students between 20 and 40 years old, of both sexes and non-smokers were recruited. Variables considered were age, sex, weight, height, chest transverse diameter, chest anteroposterior diameter, chest perimeter, chest height, trunk height, maximum expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate spirometric values based on demographic and anthropometric variables. FVC and FEV1 have a direct linear association with chest transverse diameter, chest height, chest circumference, and trunk height. A multiple linear regression equation was fitted, indicating that it is possible to estimate FVC and FEV1 as a function of trunk height and chest girth for both sexes. These variables can explain 74% of the FVC values and 68% of the FEV1 values. Comparing the values obtained by our predictive equations with the national reference equations, we observe that our results are closer to those of Quanjer et al. (2012) than to those of Knudson et al. (1983). Trunk height and chest circumference have a direct association with FEV1 and FVC and are good predictors of FEV1 and FVC in university students. Our estimated values are closer to Quanjer et al. (2012) than Knudson et al. (1983) prediction equations.

[Modern imaging of the pulmonary hilum : Anatomy, pathologies, pitfalls]. / Moderne Bildgebung des Lungenhilus : Anatomie, Pathologien, Pitfalls.

BACKGROUND: Modern medical imaging is a key component of efficient in- and out-patient precision medicine. Conventional radiography and computer tomography scans (CT) are among the most frequent radiologic exams. Medical imaging plays a key role in target-oriented medicine. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to review the anatomy of the hilum of the lung and its most frequent associated pathologies since it is an important gateway of elementary structures of the thorax. Important signs and patterns for image interpretation in different modalities are also reviewed. RESULTS: Thorough knowledge of anatomy, signs, and patterns of pathologies especially in conventional radiography and pitfalls of the more sensitive cross-sectional imaging is essential to support target-oriented patient care. CONCLUSION: Conventional radiography is affordable and readily available. It is very suitable for pathology screening, i.e., at the hilum of the lung. Cross-sectional imaging specifies diagnostics due to superior anatomic discrimination.

Thoracic configuration in patients ageing with cystic fibrosis: A retrospective single-blinded cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), thoracic morphology and its role in respiratory function is conditioned by anthropometric factors, as well as by pathological changes. While the lungs are continuously monitored, examinations of potential thoracic cage adaptations to the disease are rare. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate thoracic configuration, and its correlation to spirometry measures over time. METHODS: In total, 344 high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examinations from 90 patients were assessed and analysed. Those results were subsequently related to spirometry measurements performed within the same period. RESULTS: The cohort displayed no homogenous change in thoracic configuration over time, and correlation between thoracic area and spirometry variables could not be supported statistically. CONCLUSIONS: Although the current study included a larger cohort of patients with CF compared to previous studies on thoracic morphology, no patient group-specific changes in thoracic configuration were revealed. Furthermore, no correlations between structural findings and functional respiratory measurements were found.

[Embryology and anatomy of the thorax and breast]. / Embryologie et anatomie du thorax et du sein.

Embryology and anatomy of the chest wall and breast will be developed in this chapter. The walls of the thorax will be described; the anatomical notions of thoracic deformities will be detailed. The anatomy of the mammary gland will be developed around the understanding of the means of fixity and vascularization. The anatomical descriptions come from the writings of ancient anatomists, notably Testut and Latarjet, as well as the iconographies taken from their various works.

Nerves of the Thorax: Anatomy, Clinical Signs, and Imaging Findings of Pathological Conditions.

BACKGROUND: Radiological diagnosis of thoracic nerve diseases is difficult because they are rare, and nerves cannot be seen directly on radiological images. The major nerves of the thorax can be listed as the phrenic, vagus, recurrent laryngeal, long thoracic nerve pairs, sympathetic chains, costal nerves, and brachial plexus. Diseases of thoracic nerves have various causes, including traumatic injury, neuromuscular diseases, infection, compression, radiation, drugs, and tumors. OBJECTIVE: This pictorial review aims to describe the anatomic locations of the major thoracic nerves on radiological images, comprehensively describe the causes of thoracic nerve diseases and define the clinical signs and primary and secondary imaging findings of dysfunction of the thoracic nerves. METHODS: This paper was designed to illustrate primary and secondary imaging findings of nerve diseases. Firstly, the normal anatomy of nerves is shown with diagrams. Secondly, we explained primary and secondary imaging features with variable radiological methods, including chest X-Ray, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. CONCLUSION: Primary findings of nerve diseases can be detected if radiologists are familiar with the courses of the nerves on radiological images. Knowledge of the normal functions of the nerves can aid in diagnosing thoracic nerve diseases identified from secondary imaging findings such as diaphragmatic elevation, muscular atrophy, and winged scapula. It is essential to know the normal anatomy, function, and possible causes of thoracic nerve diseases to make a correct diagnosis and apply the prompt treatment.

A new tool for assessing Pectus Excavatum by a semi-automatic image processing pipeline calculating the classical severity indexes and a new marker: the Volumetric Correction Index.

BACKGROUND: In clinical assessment of Pectus Excavatum (PE), the indication to surgery is based not only on symptoms but also on quantitative markers calculated from Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. According to clinical routine, these indexes are measured manually by radiologists with limited computer support. This process is time consuming and potentially subjected to inaccuracy and individual variability in measurements. Moreover, the existing indexes have limitations, since they are based on linear measurements performed on single slices rather than on volumetric data derived from all the thoracic scans. RESULTS: In this paper we present an image processing pipeline aimed at providing radiologists with a computer-aid tool in support of diagnosis of PE patients developed in MATLAB® and conceived for MRI images. This framework has a dual purpose: (i) to automatize computation of clinical indexes with a view to ease and standardize pre-operative evaluation; (ii) to propose a new marker of pathological severity based on volumetric analysis and overcoming the limitations of existing axial slice-based indexes. Final designed framework is semi-automatic, requiring some user interventions at crucial steps: this is realized through a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that simplifies the interaction between the user and the tools. We tested our pipeline on 50 pediatric patients from Gaslini Children's Hospital and performed manual computation of indexes, comparing the results between the proposed tool and gold-standard clinical practice. Automatic indexes provided by our algorithm have shown good agreement with manual measurements by two independent readers. Moreover, the new proposed Volumetric Correction Index (VCI) has exhibited good correlation with standardized markers of pathological severity, proving to be a potential innovative tool for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our pipeline represents an innovative image processing in PE evaluation, based on MRI images (radiation-free) and providing the clinician with a quick and accurate tool for automatically calculating the classical PE severity indexes and a new more comprehensive marker: the Volumetric Correction Index.

Anatomical human fitting of the BiVACOR total artificial heart.

BACKGROUND: BiVACOR is a novel total artificial heart (TAH) utilizing a single centrifugal magnetically levitated rotor with the ability to modulate pulsatile flow. The device has been successfully tested in a bovine model. We undertook a multicenter anatomical and virtual fitting study of the BiVACOR in patients undergoing heart transplantation. METHODS: 10 patients were recruited across two heart transplant centers. A sterilized 1:1 titanium model of the device was inserted into the patient's chest post heart explant, prior to implantation of the donor heart. Measurements were recorded in situ. The device was then removed. Following this, retrospective 3D reconstructions were created from computed tomography chest scans to simulate a virtual fitting. RESULTS: Mean age was 53 years (range 38-67). Mean BMI was 28 (range 20-37). Heart failure etiology was varied-with ischemic cardiomyopathy being the most common. Mean spine-to-sternum distance at the tenth thoracic vertebrae (T10) was 14 cm (range 11-18). Mean aorta to aortic Port distance was 0.2 cm (range 0-0.5). Mean pulmonary artery to pulmonary artery port distance was 4.2 cm (range 1-7). The device fitted suitably in all patients without gross distortion to the geometry between native vessel/chamber and port. CONCLUSIONS: This study described the anatomical and virtual fitting of the BiVACOR TAH. The device fit well within the chest cavities of all 10 patients, who represented a variety of body morphologies and heart failure etiology.

Descripción anatómica de los segmentos óseos que componen el esqueleto apendicular torácico de la especie Puma concolor / Anatomical description of the bony segments that make up the thoracic appendicular skeleton of the species Puma concolor

RESUMEN: El Puma concolor es uno de los carnívoros más grandes presentes en Chile, aunque su tamaño varía según la zona geográfica en la que se encuentra. Cada vez es más común encontrarlos fuera de su hábitat y más en nuestro entorno. Se conocen sus aspectos ecológicos, reproductivos y nutricionales, pero muy poco de su anatomía, lo que genera un desafío en el área morfológica veterinaria que necesita fortalecimiento. El presente estudio consistió en una descripción anatómica del esqueleto apendicular de tres ejemplares adultos de Puma concolor (3 machos) en el laboratorio de anatomía veterinaria de la Universidad San Sebastián, sede de la Patagonia Puerto Montt, lo que permitió un estudio detallado de la conformación del esqueleto de cada estructura presente en el esqueleto apendicular torácico de estos ejemplares. Esto nos permitió lograr resultados de interés morfológico y profundizar en la anatomía de esta especie.

SUMMARY: The Puma concolor is one of the largest carnivores present in Chile, although its size varies according to the geographical area in which it is found. It is increasingly common to find them outside their habitat and more in our environment. Its ecological, reproductive and nutritional aspects are known, but very little is known about its anatomy, which creates a challenge in the veterinary morphological area that needs strengthening. The present study consisted of an anatomical description of the appendicular skeleton of three adult specimens of Puma concolor (3 males) in the veterinary anatomy laboratory of the Universidad San Sebastián, headquarters of Patagonia Puerto Montt, which allowed a detailed study of the conformation of the skeleton of each structure present in the thoracic appendicular skeleton of these specimens. This allowed us to achieve results of morphological interest and delve into the anatomy of this species.

Phylogenetic analysis of the family Megalopodidae (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea): better taxon-sampling facilitates detection of new relationships and new taxa.

The systematics of Megalopodidae is not adequately known, in spite of it being a relatively small group of phytophagous beetles. The first phylogenetic analysis of Megalopodidae with a comprehensive generic representation (25 genera of 30 described, 10 subgenera and 77 species) is undertaken. A parsimony analysis under equal and implied weights was carried out based on 147 adult and larval morphological characters. Subfamilies Palophaginae and Zeugophorinae were recovered as monophyletic, by contrast with Megalopodinae, which proved to be paraphyletic. Atelederinae are proposed as a new subfamily. Also, three tribes and three subtribes within Megalopodinae are proposed: Leucasteini trib.n., Sphondyliini trib.n. and Megalopodini, the latter including Macrolophina subtrib.n., Temnaspidina subtrib.n. and Megalopodina. The genera Macrolopha, Kuilua, Poecilomorpha, Temnaspis, Antonaria, Agathomerus, Megalopus and Bothromegalopus were recovered as non-monophyletic. New delimitations of the polyphyletic genera Poecilomorpha and Macrolopha are proposed, Clythraxeloma is resurrected, and the subgenera of Agathomerus are suppressed. The following new combinations are proposed: Kuilua apicata (Fairmaire), K. nyassae (Jacoby), Poecilomorpha cribricollis (Pic), P. minuta (Pic), Clythraxeloma assamensis (Jacoby), C. bipartita (Lacordaeri), C. discolineata (Pic), C. downesii (Baly), C. gerstaeckeri (Westwood), C. laosensis (Pic), C. maculata (Pic), C. mouhoti (Baly), C. nigrocyanea (Motschulsky), C. pretiosa (Reineck), Temnaspis tricoloripes (Pic) and Barticaria faciatus (Dalman). Clythraxeloma cyanipennis Kraatz is a restored combination. Distribution patterns of Megalopodidae largely conform to the breakup of Gondwanaland, with its main clades having particular distributions: Andean-Australian (Palophaginae), Ethiopian (Leucasteini, Sphondyliini, and Macrolophina), Neotropical (Ateledrinae and Megalopodina) and Ethiopian-Oriental-Palaearctic (Temnaspidina the result of a secondary expansion. Zeugophorinae present a worldwide distribution, except for the Neotropical and Andean regions, which may be the result of geodispersal. The findings of the present study also shed light on groups with taxonomic issues, where phylogenetic analyses are strongly needed.

Evolution of sexual dimorphism and polychromatism in a lineage of tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae): advancing knowledge of a taxonomically chaotic group.

Pericopina is divided into 36 genera, with the greatest diversity recorded in the Neotropics. Studies on the taxonomy and systematics of pericopines are scarce, and one of the few phylogenetic hypotheses available in the literature places some Afro-Indo-Malayan lineages among the Neotropical representatives. Through a survey of adult morphological characters, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships in Pericopina including Nyctemera and other Afro-Indo-Malayan genera as putative members of this subtribe. Additionally, we tested the monophyly of Dysschema, a key genus to understanding the evolutionary patterns of the extreme sexual dimorphism and polychromatism in Pericopina. Our cladistic analysis, based on 162 morphological characters, suggests that Pericopina is a polyphyletic group. Xenosoma is the only genus among the Neotropical pericopines related to the Afro-Indo-Malayan species; Scearctia is closely related to Lithosiini, and Pteroodes shows morphological similarities with Phaegopterina. Additionally, Seileria is a new junior subjective synonym of Thyrgis. The monophyly of Dysschema is supported only if the monotypic genera Myserla and Are are included. These are herein designated new synonyms of Dysschema. Our findings suggest that intersexual polychromatism and intersexual polymorphism for wing characters have arisen multiple times in the evolutionary history of Pericopina. Intersexual polychromatism is also widely distributed within Dysschema, perhaps representing a derived feature with multiple origins in the genus.

A simple optical tissue clearing pipeline for 3D vasculature imaging of the mediastinal organs in mice.

Optical tissue clearing (OTC) methods render tissue transparent by matching the refractive index within a sample to enable three-dimensional (3D) imaging with advanced microscopes. The application of OTC method in mediastinal organs in mice remains poorly understand. Our aim was to establish a simple protocol pipeline for 3D imaging of the mediastinal organs in mice. Trachea, oesophagus, thymus and heart were harvested from mice after retrograde perfusion via the abdominal aorta. We combined and optimized antibody labelling of thick tissue samples, OTC with cheap and non-toxic solvent ethyl cinnamate (ECi), and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) or laser confocal fluorescence microscopy (LCFM) to visualize the vasculature of those tissues. A high degree of optical transparency of trachea, oesophagus, thymus and heart was achieved after ECi-based OTC. With anti-CD31 antibody immunofluorescence labelling before ECi-based OTC, the vasculature of these tissues with their natural morphology, location and organizational network was imaged using LSFM or LCFM. This simple protocol pipeline provides an easy-to-setup and comprehensive way to study the vasculature of mediastinal organs in 3D without any special equipment. We anticipate that it will facilitate diverse applications in biomedical research of thoracic diseases and even other organs.

Phenotypic differences between highlanders and lowlanders in Papua New Guinea.

OBJECTIVES: Altitude is one of the most demanding environmental pressures for human populations. Highlanders from Asia, America and Africa have been shown to exhibit different biological adaptations, but Oceanian populations remain understudied [Woolcock et al., 1972; Cotes et al., 1974; Senn et al., 2010]. We tested the hypothesis that highlanders phenotypically differ from lowlanders in Papua New Guinea, as a result of inhabiting the highest mountains in Oceania for at least 20,000 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data for 13 different phenotypes related to altitude for 162 Papua New Guineans living at high altitude (Mont Wilhelm, 2,300-2,700 m above sea level (a.s.l.) and low altitude (Daru, <100m a.s.l.). Multilinear regressions were performed to detect differences between highlanders and lowlanders for phenotypic measurements related to body proportions, pulmonary function, and the circulatory system. RESULTS: Six phenotypes were significantly different between Papua New Guinean highlanders and lowlanders. Highlanders show shorter height (p-value = 0.001), smaller waist circumference (p-value = 0.002), larger Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (p-value = 0.008), larger maximal (p-value = 3.20e -4) and minimal chest depth (p-value = 2.37e -5) and higher haemoglobin concentration (p-value = 3.36e -4). DISCUSSION: Our study reports specific phenotypes in Papua New Guinean highlanders potentially related to altitude adaptation. Similar to other human groups adapted to high altitude, the evolutionary history of Papua New Guineans appears to have also followed an adaptive biological strategy for altitude.

Use of multivariate analysis as a tool in the morphological characterization of the main indigenous bovine ecotypes in northeastern Algeria.

Sustainability in livestock farming requires monitoring of autochthonous breeds which are well adapted to the local environment. The morphometric measurements seem to be the first approach which can provide useful information on the suitability of animal genetic resources for selection. In this work, thirteen morphometric variables were used for the phenotypic characterization of 130 adult autochthones cattle randomly selected from 30 local farms in Guelma. There were cases from four commonly accepted and traditional ecotypes: Guelmois, Cheurfa, Sétifien and Fawn. The results showed several and significant positive correlations between the different variables. Correlations were analyzed using Varimax orthogonal rotation PCA and three factors were extracted, which explain more than 75% of the total variation in the four ecotypes. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that 6 of the 13 variables had discriminatory power to define the phenotypic profile of the ecotypes. Canonical discriminant analysis indicated that the Sétifien ecotype is separate from the other three ecotypes. Mahalanobis distances were significant between the different ecotypes except for the distance between the Guelmois and Fawn ecotypes. The cross-validation procedure assigned 91.42% of the Sétifien animals to their genetic group, while the percentages of animals assigned to the Cheurfa, Guelmois and Fawn ecotypes were 80.00%, 65.71% and 53.33% respectively. The multivariate approach has proven to be effective in differentiating the four ecotypes, with clear morphological differences from the Sétifien ecotype that may benefit from a genetic improvement program for more sustainable genetic resources preservation.

Defective mesothelium and limited physical space are drivers of dysregulated lung development in a genetic model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a developmental disorder associated with diaphragm defects and lung hypoplasia. The etiology of CDH is complex and its clinical presentation is variable. We investigated the role of the pulmonary mesothelium in dysregulated lung growth noted in the Wt1 knockout mouse model of CDH. Loss of WT1 leads to intrafetal effusions, altered lung growth, and branching defects prior to normal closure of the diaphragm. We found significant differences in key genes; however, when Wt1 null lungs were cultured ex vivo, growth and branching were indistinguishable from wild-type littermates. Micro-CT imaging of embryos in situ within the uterus revealed a near absence of space in the dorsal chest cavity, but no difference in total chest cavity volume in Wt1 null embryos, indicating a redistribution of pleural space. The altered space and normal ex vivo growth suggest that physical constraints are contributing to the CDH lung phenotype observed in this mouse model. These studies emphasize the importance of examining the mesothelium and chest cavity as a whole, rather than focusing on single organs in isolation to understand early CDH etiology.