Is there a correlation between levator ani and urethral sphincter complex status on 3D ultrasonography?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To determine the correlation between levator ani deficiency (LAD) and urethral sphincter complex measurements as visualized on 3D endovaginal ultrasonography, and to compare the LAD score with continence status. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of patients seen at our institution between January 2011 and August 2013. Patients were dichotomized into those with urodynamic stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and those with no SUI. Levator ani status was evaluated using a validated scoring system yielding scores of 0 - 6 (normal levator ani/mild LAD), 7 - 12 (moderate LAD), and 13 - 18 (severe LAD). The length, horizontal diameter, and cross-sectional area of the urethra, and the length, width, and the area of the rhabdomyosphincter and smooth muscle sphincter were likewise measured using 3D ultrasound volumes. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients included, 54 (67.5%) had SUI and 26 (32.5%) were continent. 18 (22.5%) had evidence of mild LAD, 54 (67.5%) had moderate LAD, and 8 (10.0%) had severe LAD. Among patients with SUI, those with normal levator ani muscles or mild LAD had greater urethral smooth muscle width than those with moderate and severe LAD (p = 0.0238). A greater proportion of patients with SUI also had moderate to severe LAD than continent patients (p = 0.0177, OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.21 - 10.65). There was no difference in LAD distribution by type of stress incontinence (presence or absence of intrinsic sphincter deficiency; p = .2377). CONCLUSIONS: LAD and urethral sphincter complex status, as visualized on 3D ultrasonography, are independent factors. Moderate to severe LAD is more prevalent in patients with SUI.

An ultrasound approach to the posterior compartment and anorectal dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Patients with anorectal dysfunction are common and can be quite challenging to diagnose. The common underlying causes for such conditions are usually anatomical in nature, which may be difficult to fully evaluate by clinical examination alone. The aim of this video was to demonstrate how multicompartmental ultrasound imaging can be utilized clinically in the evaluation of patients with anorectal dysfunction. METHODS: Pertinent ultrasound findings of the common anatomical causes of defecatory dysfunction were discussed in this video. RESULTS: Different ultrasound techniques were shown. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, multicompartmental ultrasound imaging is an easy, cost-efficient, and valuable tool in the evaluation of patients with anorectal dysfunction.

Candidate genes for carcass traits in a tropical-adapted Brazilian composite beef breed.

Backfat thickness (BFT) and ribeye area (REA) are important production traits but, because they are measured late in the animal's life, they have not been efficiently included in breeding programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapped to the leptin, PPARGC1A, PSMC1, CRH, and FABP4 genes, which influence BFT and REA in Canchim cattle, a composite beef breed (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu). BFT and REA phenotypic records were obtained by ultrasound measurements from 18-month-old animals. All SNP markers were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction. Restricted maximum likelihood analysis revealed that the non-synonymous SNP located in exon 2 of the FABP4 gene has an additive effect on BFT (P ≤ 0.05). Significant allele substitution effects showed that the substitution of G by A may lead to a decrease of 0.1055 mm in mean BFT. This information can be used for inclusion of this trait-associated marker in commercial SNP panels.

Whole-genome analysis for backfat thickness in a tropically adapted, composite cattle breed from Brazil.

Backfat thickness affects the preservation of the beef carcass after slaughter and confers organoleptic characteristics assessed by the consumer. One of the breeding goals for Canchim, a tropically adapted breed, is to comprehensively increase fat thickness. Our goals were to identify genomic regions associated with backfat in Canchim populations and validate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) overlapping previously identified QTL regions known to affect fat deposition. Fifteen animals with lower and 15 animals with higher residues for backfat, according to a linear model using the SAS GLM procedure, were selected from a population of 1171 animals and genotyped using the BovineSNP50 BeadChip. Initial analysis revealed more than 100 SNPs that discriminated the tails of phenotypic distribution. One extended region of association included the centromeric region of chromosome (Chr) 14. Because this region overlapped with QTL from previous reports, we developed SNP assays to interrogate two linkage disequilibrium blocks, one in the centromeric region and another in the middle region of Chr 14 to confirm the association. The analysis validated the presence of specific haplotypes affecting fat thickness.

Safety and In Situ Antierosive Effect of CaneCPI-5 on Dental Enamel.

The sugarcane cystatin (CaneCPI-5) was recently cloned and showed strong binding force to dental enamel and protection against initial erosion. However, evaluations on its safety and efficacy in a situation closer to the clinical condition are necessary. In the present study we analyzed 1) the cytotoxicity of CaneCPI-5 on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs); 2) the ability of CaneCPI-5 to reduce enamel erosion and erosion+abrasion in situ. In part 1, HGFs were treated with CaneCPI-5 (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/mL) or no treatment (control). The cytotoxicity was assessed after 60 s and 24 h by mitochondrial activity (MTT), confocal microscopy, and hematoxylin/eosin staining. In part 2, 15 volunteers participated in a double-blind crossover protocol consisting of 3 phases, according to the following treatments: 1) 0.1 mg/mL CaneCPI-5; 2) SnCl2/NaF/AmF (Elmex; positive control); 3) water (negative control). The volunteers wore an appliance containing 4 bovine enamel specimens for 5 d. Each day, the specimens were individually treated with 50 µL of the tested solutions per 60 s and then subjected to erosive challenges (0.1% citric acid, pH 2.5, for 90 s, 4 times per day). After the first and last erosive challenge each day, 2 samples were abraded (toothbrushing, 15 s). Enamel wear was measured by contact profilometry. One or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)/Tukey's or Sidak's tests (P < 0.05) were applied. Regardless of the concentration and the experimental time, CaneCPI-5 did not decrease the cell viability compared to the negative control (P < 0.05). Erosion+abrasion led to significantly greater wear compared to erosion only. For both conditions, the lowest wear was found for SnCl2 and CaneCPI-5, which did not differ significantly from each other, but showed significant protection when compared to the negative control. In conclusion, CaneCPI-5 is safe on HGFs and reduces enamel erosive wear to the same extent as a commercial solution used to control erosive tooth wear (ETW).

Abiotic factors drives floristic variations of fern's metacommunity in an Atlantic Forest remnant.

We analyzed floristic variations in fern's metacommunity at the local scale and their relationship with abiotic factors in an Atlantic Forest remnant of northeastern Brazil. Floristic and environmental variations were accessed on ten plots of 10 × 20 m. We performed cluster analyses, based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index to establish the floristic relationship. The influence of abiotic factors: luminosity, temperature, relative air humidity and relative soil moisture was evaluated from a redundancy analysis. We found 24 species belonging to 20 genera and 12 families. The fern's flora showed high floristic heterogeneity (>75% for most of the plot's associations). The fern's metacommunity was structured along an abiotic gradient modulated by temperature, luminosity, and relative soil moisture.

A New Sugarcane Cystatin Strongly Binds to Dental Enamel and Reduces Erosion.

Cystatin B was recently identified as an acid-resistant protein in acquired enamel pellicle; it could therefore be included in oral products to protect against caries and erosion. However, human recombinant cystatin is very expensive, and alternatives to its use are necessary. Phytocystatins are reversible inhibitors of cysteine peptidases that are found naturally in plants. In plants, they have several biological and physiological functions, such as the regulation of endogenous processes, defense against pathogens, and response to abiotic stress. Previous studies performed by our research group have reported high inhibitory activity and potential agricultural and medical applications of several sugarcane cystatins, including CaneCPI-1, CaneCPI-2, CaneCPI-3, and CaneCPI-4. In the present study, we report the characterization of a novel sugarcane cystatin, named CaneCPI-5. This cystatin was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli, and inhibitory assays demonstrated that it was a potent inhibitor of human cathepsins B, K, and L ( Ki = 6.87, 0.49, and 0.34 nM, respectively). The ability of CaneCPI-5 to bind to dental enamel was evaluated using atomic force microscopy. Its capacity to protect against initial enamel erosion was also tested in vitro via changes in surface hardness. CaneCPI-5 showed a very large force of interaction with enamel (e.g., compared with mucin and casein) and significantly reduced initial enamel erosion. These results suggest that the inclusion of CaneCPIs in dental products might confer protection against enamel erosion.

Abiotic factors drives floristic variations of fern's metacommunity in an Atlantic Forest remnant / Fatores abióticos regulam as variações florísticas na metacomunidade de samambaias em um remanescente de Floresta Atlântica

Abstract We analyzed floristic variations in fern's metacommunity at the local scale and their relationship with abiotic factors in an Atlantic Forest remnant of northeastern Brazil. Floristic and environmental variations were accessed on ten plots of 10 × 20 m. We performed cluster analyses, based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index to establish the floristic relationship. The influence of abiotic factors: luminosity, temperature, relative air humidity and relative soil moisture was evaluated from a redundancy analysis. We found 24 species belonging to 20 genera and 12 families. The fern's flora showed high floristic heterogeneity (>75% for most of the plot's associations). The fern's metacommunity was structured along an abiotic gradient modulated by temperature, luminosity, and relative soil moisture.

Resumo Analisamos as variações florísticas na metacomunidade de samambaias em escala local e sua relação com fatores abióticos em um remanescente de Floresta Atlântica no Nordeste do Brasil. Variações florísticas e ambientais foram acessadas a partir de dez parcelas de 10 × 20 m. Realizamos análises de cluster, baseado no índice de similaridade de Bray-Curtis para estabelecer relações florísticas. A influência de fatores abióticos: luminosidade, temperatura, umidade relativa do ar e umidade relativa do solo foram avaliadas a partir da análise de redundância. Encontramos 24 espécies pertencentes a 20 gêneros e 12 famílias. A flora de samambaias exibiu uma elevada heterogeneidade florística (>75% para a maioria das associações entre plots). Observou-se que a metacomunidade de samambaias estava estruturada ao longo de um gradiente abiótico modulado pela temperatura, luminosidade e umidade relativa do solo.