Effect of food supplementation on in vitro embryo production and growth performance in prepubertal Nelore heifers.

In vitro embryos production from prepubertal heifers can help contribute to breeding programs; however, strategies are necessary to increase their embryo production. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two nutritional plans on oocyte recovery, embryo production and growth performance of prepubertal Nelore heifers. Thirty-four Nelore heifers with age of 6.5 months were divided into two feeding treatments (NP1 and NP2). The NP1 diets served as the control and NP2 diets were formulated to contain an average of 1.22-fold more energy than NP1. After 3 months of supplementation, the animals underwent follicular aspiration (ovum pick-up, OPU) every 21 d for 3 months and embryos were produced in vitro. Wither height, chest depth, body weight and subcutaneous fat of animals were measured. The number of retrieved and viable oocytes per OPU were 1.49-fold and 1.42-fold greater in NP2 heifers (p = 0.018 and p = 0.049, respectively) than those in NP1 heifers. Heifers administered NP2 produced 29.7% blastocysts, a percentage higher than NP1 animals that produced 24.40% embryos (p < 0.05). Consequently, females in the NP2 treatment showed improved body development. These results indicate a positive effect of a higher energy diet on assisted reproduction and body development in prepubertal heifers.

Power reflectance testing in newborns and infants, / O estudo da reflectância de potência em neonatos e lactentes

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Auditory screening in newborns allows for detection of hearing problems early in life. However, middle ear diseases can make the diagnosis more difficult. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the power reflectance test as an indicator of the middle ear disease and to compare it to tympanometry. METHODS: Case study evaluating 105 newborns and infants who participated in the audiology screening in 2013. The following exams were performed: transient otoacoustic emissions, power reflectance, and tympanometry. RESULTS: In the optoacoustic emission evaluation, approximately 95% of the subjects passed the test. The specificity of power reflectance in all frequencies studied ranged from 75.3% to 95.9%, and that of tympanometry at 1000 Hz ranged from 83% to 87.2%; there was agreement among these exams. CONCLUSION: The outcome of power reflectance tests at 2000 Hz and 3000 Hz showed a correlation with tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions, and these were the most appropriate frequencies to determine middle ear disease through power reflectance measurement. It was also observed that values of power reflectance above reference levels suggested the presence of fluid in the middle ear, and thus a conductive hearing loss.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: A triagem auditiva neonatal nos permite identificar precocemente alterações auditivas. Entretanto, doenças da orelha média podem dificultar o diagnóstico. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o exame de reflectância de potência como um indicador de doença de orelha média e compará-lo com a timpanometria. MÉTODO: Estudo de casos em que foram avaliados 105 neonatos e lactentes que fizeram parte da triagem auditiva em 2013. Foram realizados os seguintes exames: emissões otoacústicas transientes, reflectância de potência e timpanometria. RESULTADOS: Na avaliação das emissões otoacústicas, cerca de 95% passaram. A especificidade da reflectância de potência em todas as frequências pesquisadas variou de 75,3% até 95,9% e da timpanometria em 1.000 Hz variou de 83% até 87,2% e houve concordância entre esses exames. CONCLUSÃO: O resultado do exame de reflectância nas frequências de 2.000 Hz e 3.000 Hz apresentou correlação com os resultados da timpanometria e com as emissões otoacústicas, e foram estas as frequências mais adequadas para a determinação de doença de orelha média pela reflectância de potência. Observou-se que valores da reflectância de potência acima dos padrões sugerem presença de líquido em orelha média, portanto uma alteração condutiva.

Power reflectance testing in newborns and infants.

INTRODUCTION: Auditory screening in newborns allows for detection of hearing problems early in life. However, middle ear diseases can make the diagnosis more difficult. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the power reflectance test as an indicator of the middle ear disease and to compare it to tympanometry. METHODS: Case study evaluating 105 newborns and infants who participated in the audiology screening in 2013. The following exams were performed: transient otoacoustic emissions, power reflectance, and tympanometry. RESULTS: In the optoacoustic emission evaluation, approximately 95% of the subjects passed the test. The specificity of power reflectance in all frequencies studied ranged from 75.3% to 95.9%, and that of tympanometry at 1000Hz ranged from 83% to 87.2%; there was agreement among these exams. CONCLUSION: The outcome of power reflectance tests at 2000Hz and 3000Hz showed a correlation with tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions, and these were the most appropriate frequencies to determine middle ear disease through power reflectance measurement. It was also observed that values of power reflectance above reference levels suggested the presence of fluid in the middle ear, and thus a conductive hearing loss.

Impact of mitomycin C on the mRNA expression signatures of immunological biomarkers in eosinophilic nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND: The topical application of mitomycin C has been evaluated as a complementary therapy for eosinophilic nasal polyposis (ENP). However, the mechanism underlying the additional benefits of mitomycin C for the control of eosinophilic inflammation and prevention of posttherapeutic relapse remains to be elucidated. In this work, the aim was to characterize the gene expression profile by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of proinflammatory and regulatory biomarkers that are typically associated with ENP and to assess the impact of the topical application of mitomycin C on the nasal mucosal tissue immunologic milieu after ENP surgery. METHODS: We have selected 20 patients with ENP that were recommended to undergo surgical intervention. Normal mucosal tissue was obtained from healthy nasal mucosa from six patients with absence of eosinophilic infiltration. To test the effect of mitomycin C, one side of the maxillary sinus mucosa was selected for topical application of this drug and the other received no further treatment and acted as the control. The genes interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5), CCL24, colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and beta actin (ACTB) were selected for gene expression analysis by qPCR. RESULTS: The data showed higher expression of proinflammatory biomarkers and lower levels of regulatory TGFB1 transcripts in ENP mucosal tissue. Surgery with topical application of mitomycin C induced a prominent transcriptional down-regulation of the immunologic biomarkers, CCL24, TNF-alpha, CSF2, and IL-5, in ENP mucosal tissue. Additionally, this treatment restored the levels of chemokines and cytokines to those observed in the nasal mucosal tissue of control subjects, except for TGFB1, which remained below the reference pattern. Moreover, CSF2 was identified as a putative biomarker with significant predictive value for complementary prophylactic purposes after surgery in ENP patients. CONCLUSION: After the characterization of the expression signatures of immunologic biomarkers in ENP, we observed that the topical use of mitomycin C is important for the reestablishment of the immunologic microenvironment of a normal expression profile of biomarkers involved in ENP mucosal tissue.

Impact of mitomycin C on the mRNA expression signatures of immunological biomarkers in eosinophilic nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND: The topical application of mitomycin C has been evaluated as a complementary therapy for eosinophilic nasal polyposis (ENP). However, the mechanism underlying the additional benefits of mitomycin C for the control of eosinophilic inflammation and prevention of posttherapeutic relapse remains to be elucidated. In this work, the aim was to characterize the gene expression profile by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of proinflammatory and regulatory biomarkers that are typically associated with ENP and to assess the impact of the topical application of mitomycin C on the nasal mucosal tissue immunologic milieu after ENP surgery. METHODS: We have selected 20 patients with ENP that were recommended to undergo surgical intervention. Normal mucosal tissue was obtained from healthy nasal mucosa from six patients with absence of eosinophilic infiltration. To test the effect of mitomycin C, one side of the maxillary sinus mucosa was selected for topical application of this drug and the other received no further treatment and acted as the control. The genes interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5), CCL24, colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and beta actin (ACTB) were selected for gene expression analysis by qPCR. RESULTS: The data showed higher expression of proinflammatory biomarkers and lower levels of regulatory TGFB1 transcripts in ENP mucosal tissue. Surgery with topical application of mitomycin C induced a prominent transcriptional down-regulation of the immunologic biomarkers, CCL24, TNF-alpha, CSF2, and IL-5, in ENP mucosal tissue. Additionally, this treatment restored the levels of chemokines and cytokines to those observed in the nasal mucosal tissue of control subjects, except for TGFB1, which remained below the reference pattern. Moreover, CSF2 was identified as a putative biomarker with significant predictive value for complementary prophylactic purposes after surgery in ENP patients. CONCLUSION: After the characterization of the expression signatures of immunologic biomarkers in ENP, we observed that the topical use of mitomycin C is important for the reestablishment of the immunologic microenvironment of a normal expression profile of biomarkers involved in ENP mucosal tissue.