Not All Chubby Cheeks Are Cute: A Case of Cherubism.

The growth of the jaw occurs painlessly in cherubism, a rare genetic disorder where normal bone is replaced by fibrous tissue and undeveloped bone. Usually running in families, this non-cancerous genetic condition naturally reaches a limit and stops growing. The main characteristic is the aberrant growth of osseous and fibrous tissue in the maxilla and mandible, which is frequently seen in children. Cherubism is inherited autosomal dominantly, though reports have included individuals without a family history. The disorder has specific radiographic and histological features that drastically affect facial appearance. This article provides a thorough case study of a male 16-year-old with cherubism, emphasizing management techniques and clinical and radiological results. Radiological imaging is essential for diagnosis and management because it can identify the distinctive features of cherubism and the treatment implications associated with it.

Testosterone recovery after androgen deprivation therapy.

PURPOSE: Finite courses of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are often utilized in men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Previous evidence suggests that timing of testosterone (T) recovery can be variable after ADT. Recently, an oral gonadotropin releasing-hormone (GnRH) antagonist, relugolix, has demonstrated more rapid T recovery than injectable GnRH agonists such as leuprolide. In this study, we sought to evaluate patient characteristics associated with T recovery in patients undergoing ADT of defined duration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Northwestern Enterprise Data Warehouse was queried for men with prostate cancer who completed a course of ADT and subsequently had a testosterone lab performed. Testosterone recovery was evaluated for levels that reached above castrate (T > 50 ng/dl), partial recovery (T > 150 ng/dl), and full recovery (T ≥ 300 ng/dl). RESULTS: 388 men who received finite courses of ADT were identified (348 receiving leuprolide, 36 receiving relugolix, and 4 receiving degarelix). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, men who were prescribed GnRH antagonists (HR = 3.74, CI = 2.53-5.53, P ≤ 0.001) and who were younger (HR for 1 year increase in age = 0.96, CI = 0.95-0.98, P < 0.001) were more likely to achieve partial recovery. In a subgroup analysis, men who received extended ADT courses (>12 months) with a GnRH agonist had lower rates of partial T recovery (HR = 0.58, CI = 0.41-0.81, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: T recovery after ADT is variable with roughly one sixth of men remaining castrate. GnRH antagonist use and younger age are associated with higher rates of T recovery after ADT. Longer ADT courses were associated with worse T recovery rates.

Modern predictors and management of incidental prostate cancer at holmium enucleation of prostate.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate contemporary preoperative risk factors and subsequent postoperative management of incidental prostate cancer (iPCa) and incidental clinically significant prostate cancer (icsPCa, Grade Group [GG] ≥ 2 PCa). METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 811 men undergoing Holmium enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) (January 2021-July 2022) were identified. Advanced preoperative testing was defined as prostate health index (PHI), prostate MRI, and/or negative preoperative biopsy. Descriptive statistics (Whitney-Mann U test, Chi-squared test) and multivariable logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: iPCa and icsPCa detection rates were 12.8% (104/811) and 4.4% (36/811), respectively. Advanced preoperative testing (406/811, 50%) was associated with younger age and higher (prostate specific antigen) PSA, prostate volume, and PSA density. On multivariable analysis, PHI ≥ 55 was associated with iPCa (OR 6.91, 95% CI 1.85-26.3, p = 0.004), and % free PSA (%fPSA) was associated with icsPCa (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.67, 0.94, p = 0.01). GG1 disease comprised the majority of iPCa (65%, 68/104) with median 1% involvement. iPCa patients were followed with active surveillance (median follow up 9.3 months), with higher risk patients receiving prostate MRI and confirmatory biopsy. Three patients proceeded to radical prostatectomy or radiation. CONCLUSIONS: In the era of MRI and advanced biomarkers, the majority of iPCa following HoLEP is low volume GG1 suitable for active surveillance. A tentative follow-up strategy is proposed. Patients with PHI ≥ 55 or low %fPSA, even with negative prostate MRI, can consider preoperative prostate biopsy before HoLEP.

Epididymal Cyst Lesions Are Not Associated With Impaired Semen Parameters Among Men Presenting for Fertility Evaluation.

PURPOSE: Epididymal cyst lesions (ECLs) include both spermatoceles and epididymal cysts and are often incidentally found on physical exam or scrotal US (SUS). We aimed to determine the association of ECLs and semen parameters among men presenting for fertility evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed men at our institution who had at least 1 semen analysis and SUS available for review between 2002 and 2022. SUS data included testicular measurements, presence or absence of subclinical varicocele, and size and laterality of ECL, if present. Demographic and clinical information including serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone and semen parameters were compared between men with and without ECLs. RESULTS: Among 861 men, 164 (19%) had unilateral right ECL (median 4 mm, interquartile range 3-8 mm), 189 (22%) had unilateral left ECL (median 4 mm, interquartile range 3-9 mm), and 113 (13%) had bilateral ECL. Patients with ECLs were significantly older than men without ECLs at the time of evaluation but had no statistically significant difference in semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm morphology, total motile sperm count, or serum hormonal values. Analysis of men with unilateral and bilateral ECLs showed that ECL size and laterality did not significantly correlate with any semen parameter evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between ECLs and semen parameters. Patients should be counseled toward conservative management with observation for asymptomatic ECLs in the setting of fertility evaluation.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cyclops Lesion in Patients With Non-reconstructed Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

Introduction The term cyclops lesion refers to localized anterior fibrosis, which is the abnormal proliferation of fibrous tissue in a joint that develops in the anterior aspect of the intercondylar notch. It is a known cause of extension loss of the knee after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction; however, it can be found in patients who have not undergone any surgical repair of the ACL. The term "cyclops lesion" was given based on the arthroscopic appearance of the fibrous nodule and vessels that resemble an eye. The purpose of this study is to highlight the existence of cyclops lesions in non-operated knees. Methods We conducted a study on 10 patients who were subjected to an MRI knee in a Siemens Magnetom Vida 3 Tesla (Erlangen, Germany) machine. We retrospectively analyzed all 10 cases in our institution from July 2021 to March 2022. These subjects had a previous history of trauma, and they presented with complaints of pain and difficulty in knee extension but no history of previous ligament repair. All patients underwent an MRI examination. When a cyclops lesion was revealed on MR imaging, the signal-intensity characteristics, location, and size were documented. Results There were a total of 10 patients included in the study, of whom eight were males and two were females. The most common clinical presentation in all our cases was difficulty in the extension of the knee, while there was associated instability and difficulty in walking in some patients. There was a demonstrable cyclops lesion near the tibial attachment of ACL in eight (80%) patients, whereas it was found to be located just lateral to the anterior intercondylar notch in the rest of the two (20%) patients. Conclusion MRI is an effective tool to evaluate unexplained pain, functional limitations, and limited range of motion in patients with suspected arthrofibrosis. MRI also helps determine the extent of fibrosis involvement and excludes other complications that may have a similar clinical picture.

Imaging in Septic Arthritis With Inflammatory Neuritis: Diagnosing a Rare Complication.

After femoral neck fractures, hip septic arthritis and inflammatory neuritis are extremely rare. For the purpose of making an accurate diagnosis and preventing serious joint damage, early clinical examination and imaging are crucial. Very few studies have thoroughly described the intraoperative and radiographic results of these disorders. We present the case of a 36-year-old man who developed right hip pain one month after undergoing surgery for a right femur head fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging and biopsy revealed the presence of septic arthritis and inflammatory neuritis. Following the initiation of conservative treatment, the patient is receiving routine follow-up. This case highlights its distinctive features and challenges of diagnosing this entity, emphasizing the significance of vigilant clinical evaluation and imaging modalities for prompt management and the best possible outcomes for patients.

From computational screening to the synthesis of a promising OER catalyst.

The search for new materials can be laborious and expensive. Given the challenges that mankind faces today concerning the climate change crisis, the need to accelerate materials discovery for applications like water-splitting could be very relevant for a renewable economy. In this work, we introduce a computational framework to predict the activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, in order to accelerate the discovery of materials that can facilitate water splitting. We use this framework to screen 6155 ternary-phase spinel oxides and have isolated 33 candidates which are predicted to have potentially high OER activity. We have also trained a machine learning model to predict the binding energies of the *O, *OH and *OOH intermediates calculated within this workflow to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between electronic structure descriptors and OER activity. Out of the 33 candidates predicted to have high OER activity, we have synthesized three compounds and characterized them using linear sweep voltammetry to gauge their performance in OER. From these three catalyst materials, we have identified a new material, Co2.5Ga0.5O4, that is competitive with benchmark OER catalysts in the literature with a low overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope at 56.0 mV dec-1. Given the vast size of chemical space as well as the success of this technique to date, we believe that further application of this computational framework based on the high-throughput virtual screening of materials can lead to the discovery of additional novel, high-performing OER catalysts.

Late-Onset Manifestations of Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome: A Case Report.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is characterized by a range of tumors including phaeochromocytomas, pancreatic adenomas, cerebellar haemangioblastomas, and renal cell carcinomas. A 50-year-old male presented with a three-week history of headache. Additionally, the patient exhibited signs of hypertension. Ultrasonography (USG) abdomen and pelvis showed a solid mass lesion in the left adrenal gland, iso-echoic to the renal cortex. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the brain, a well-defined solid cystic lesion was seen in the left posterior cerebellar hemisphere. Small nodular enhancing lesions were seen in the right cerebellar hemisphere. On further imaging with MRI brain contrast, the lesions in the cerebellum were diagnosed as multifocal hemangioblastomas. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated urinary metanephrines and normetanephrine, suggesting pheochromocytoma. Based on radiological and biochemical investigations, with the features of cerebellar haemangioblastomas and pheochromocytoma, a diagnosis of VHL syndrome was made.

Duplication of Left Anterior Descending Artery: A Case Report on a Rare Abnormality.

Duplication of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is a benign condition. The formation of a double LAD is a rare phenomenon among coronary artery anomalies. The categorization of the branching pattern of the LAD has been articulated well in numerous studies, owing to the widespread adoption of computed tomography angiography. Anomalous coronaries are a crucial pathological condition that should be examined. Individuals who are suffering from chest pain should be aware that it can potentially lead to myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, or sudden cardiac death. Here is a unique case study detailing the diagnosis of dual LAD in a 50-year-old female patient.

Detection of clinically significant prostate cancer following initial omission of biopsy in multiparametric MRI era.

BACKGROUND: Multiparametric prostate MRI (mpMRI) is being increasingly adopted for work-up of prostate cancer. For patients selected to omit biopsy, we identified factors associated with repeat MRI, eventual prostate biopsy, and subsequent detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa, Grade Group ≥2). METHODS: We identified biopsy-naïve men presenting with PSA 2-20 ng/mL (March 2018-June 2021) undergoing initial mpMRI with PIRADS 1-3 lesions who were not selected for biopsy with ≥6 months follow-up. We examined factors associated with repeat mpMRI, progression to biopsy, and subsequent detection of csPCa with univariable and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 1494 men, 31% (463/1494) did not pursue biopsy. PSA density (PSAD) ≤ 0.1, prostate health index (PHI) < 55, and PIRADS 1-2 were associated with omission of prostate biopsy. csPCa diagnosis-free survival was 97.6% (326/334) with median follow up of 23.1 months (IQR 15.1-34.6 months). Black race, PSA, PHI, PSA density, and PSA and PHI velocity were significant predictors of undergoing repeat mpMRI (15.6%, 52/334) and subsequent biopsy (8.4%, 28/334). 8 men were subsequently diagnosed with csPCa (N = 7 on prostate biopsy; N = 1 incidentally on holmium enucleation of prostate). All patients diagnosed with csPCa had PIRADS 4-5 on repeat mpMRI. CONCLUSIONS: The subsequent detection rate of csPCa among patients not initially biopsied after mpMRI was low at 2.4%. Decisions to omit biopsy after initial reassuring PHI, PSAD, and mpMRI appear safe with subsequent reassuring serum biomarkers and for cause mpMRI during follow-up.

Contemporary Diagnosis of Very Low-risk Prostate Cancer in a Multihospital Health Care System.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) very low risk (VLR) category for prostate cancer (PCa) represents clinically insignificant disease, and detection of VLR PCa contributes to overdiagnosis. Greater use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biomarkers before patient selection for prostate biopsy (PBx) reduces unnecessary biopsies and may reduce the diagnosis of clinically insignificant PCa. We tested a hypothesis that the proportion of VLR diagnoses has decreased with greater use of MRI-informed PBx using data from our 11-hospital system. From 2018 to 2023, 351/3197 (11%) men diagnosed with PCa met the NCCN VLR criteria. The proportion of VLR diagnoses did not change from 2018 to 2023 (p = 0.8) despite an increase in the use of MRI-informed PBx (from 49% to 82%; p < 0.001). Of patients who underwent combined systematic and targeted PBx and were diagnosed with VLR disease, cancer was found in systematic PBx regions in 79% of cases and in targeted PBx regions in 31% of cases. When performing both systematic and targeted PBx, prebiopsy MRI-based risk calculators could limit VLR diagnosis by 41% using a risk threshold of >5% for Gleason grade group ≥3 PCa to recommend biopsy; the reduction would be 77% if performing targeted PBx only. These findings suggest that VLR disease continues to account for a significant minority of PCa diagnoses and could be limited by targeted PBx and risk stratification calculators. PATIENT SUMMARY: We looked at recent trends for the diagnosis of very low-risk (VLR) prostate cancer. We found that VLR cancer still seems to be frequently diagnosed despite the use of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans before biopsy. The use of risk calculators to identify men who could avoid biopsy and/or biopsy only for lesions that are visible on MRI could reduce the overdiagnosis of VLR prostate cancer.

Distribution and Positive Predictive Value of Follicle Stimulating Hormone Among Nonazoospermic Men.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to characterize the distribution of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in fertile and subfertile nonazoospermic men, and to determine the ability of various FSH thresholds to predict fertility status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1389 nonazoospermic men who presented for fertility evaluation. Men with at least 2 semen analyses and 1 FSH level were included. Men were dichotomized into fertile and subfertile groups based on total motile sperm count. FSH was evaluated within a multivariable model, and positive predictive values (PPVs) for subfertility were used to assess the clinical utility of various FSH thresholds. RESULTS: One thousand fifteen (80%) men were classified as fertile and 274 (20%) as subfertile. Age, presence of varicocele, and testosterone levels were not statistically different between the groups. Median FSH was 4.0 vs 6.0 (P < .001) among fertile vs subfertile men. Multiple FSH thresholds ranging from 2.9 to 9.3 performed similarly in predicting fertility status (PPV 0.49-0.59). Only FSH thresholds above the 95th percentile (12.1) had PPVs greater than 0.7. The highest PPV (0.84) was seen at an FSH of 20.8 (99th percentile). CONCLUSIONS: While there were significant differences in FSH levels among fertile and subfertile nonazoospermic men, multiple FSH cutoffs between 2.2 and 9.3 performed poorly for prediction of fertility status as determined by total motile sperm count. It was not until the 95th percentile FSH value that a clinically useful level of predictability for subfertility was reached, indicating that FSH should not be used as a standalone test of fertility status. Nonetheless, FSH testing remains clinically useful and may be most informative in the setting of extreme values or discordant FSH and semen analysis results.

Controlling phase transformation of La/Ni oxides by switching annealing conditions and their resultant pseudocapacitive behaviour.

Annealing step is a critical step in the hydrothermal assisted synthesis of La/Ni oxides such as LaNiO3-δ(LNOA) and La2NiO4+δ(LNON). In the current study, we have discovered the interlink between the atmosphere and temperature conditions which dictate the product formed. La/Ni nitrate precursors were subjected to a hydrothermal synthesis followed by an annealing step at appropriate temperature and varying atmosphere resulting in the synthesis of the corresponding oxides. The annealing temperature was varied in the range between 650 °C and 800 °C and also the annealing was carried out either in pure N2atmosphere or air. From the x-ray diffraction analysis, it was inferred that annealing in air invariably resulted in the rhombohedral LaNiO3(LNOA) perovskite phase, while annealing in N2atmosphere resulted in an orthorhombic Ruddlesden-Popper phase La2NiO4(LNON), a layered oxide containing traces of NiO phase. Typically, iodometric titrations substantiate the presence of Ni (III) which further can be correlated to the presence of oxygen vacancies (δ). Iodometric test results demarcated the difference between the two phases with absolutely minimal I2liberated from the LNON samples proving that negligible amount of Ni (III) was present in LNON Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed an agglomeration of particles annealed at higher temperatures irrespective of the atmosphere. Temperature dependent oxygen non-stoichiometry (Δδ) was analyzed through thermogravimetric analysis, wherein Δδwas inversely proportional to the annealing temperature for all of the LNOA samples. Considering that largeδvalues favor pseudocapacitive behaviour, it was observed LNOA oxides showed excellent pseudocapacitive behaviour compared to the LNON oxides. Dunn deconvolution of the cyclic voltammograms of LNOA 800 °C at 5 m Vs-1indicated that diffusive contribution (66%) was predominant over capacitive contributions. The LNOA sample annealed at 800 °C displayed the highest specific capacitance of 100.3 F g-1at 1 A g-1current density.

Optimizing detection of clinically significant prostate cancer through nomograms incorporating mri, clinical features, and advanced serum biomarkers in biopsy naïve men.

PURPOSE: To develop nomograms that predict the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa, defined as ≥GG2 [Grade Group 2]) at diagnostic biopsy based on multiparametric prostate MRI (mpMRI), serum biomarkers, and patient clinicodemographic features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nomograms were developed from a cohort of biopsy-naïve men presenting to our 11-hospital system with prostate specific antigen (PSA) of 2-20 ng/mL who underwent pre-biopsy mpMRI from March 2018-June 2021 (n = 1494). The outcomes were the presence of csPCa and high-grade prostate cancer (defined as ≥GG3 prostate cancer). Using significant variables on multivariable logistic regression, individual nomograms were developed for men with total PSA, % free PSA, or prostate health index (PHI) when available. The nomograms were both internally validated and evaluated in an independent cohort of 366 men presenting to our hospital system from July 2021-February 2022. RESULTS: 1031 of 1494 men (69%) underwent biopsy after initial evaluation with mpMRI, 493 (47.8%) of whom were found to have ≥GG2 PCa, and 271 (26.3%) were found to have ≥GG3 PCa. Age, race, highest PIRADS score, prostate health index when available, % free PSA when available, and PSA density were significant predictors of ≥GG2 and ≥GG3 PCa on multivariable analysis and were used for nomogram generation. Accuracy of nomograms in both the training cohort and independent cohort were high, with areas under the curves (AUC) of ≥0.885 in the training cohort and ≥0.896 in the independent validation cohort. In our independent validation cohort, our model for ≥GG2 prostate cancer with PHI saved 39.1% of biopsies (143/366) while only missing 0.8% of csPCa (1/124) with a biopsy threshold of 20% probability of csPCa. CONCLUSIONS: Here we developed nomograms combining serum testing and mpMRI to help clinicians risk stratify patients with elevated PSA of 2-20 ng/mL who are being considered for biopsy. Our nomograms are available at https://rossnm1.shinyapps.io/MynMRIskCalculator/ to aid with biopsy decisions.

High entropy liquid electrolytes for lithium batteries.

High-entropy alloys/compounds have large configurational entropy by introducing multiple components, showing improved functional properties that exceed those of conventional materials. However, how increasing entropy impacts the thermodynamic/kinetic properties in liquids that are ambiguous. Here we show this strategy in liquid electrolytes for rechargeable lithium batteries, demonstrating the substantial impact of raising the entropy of electrolytes by introducing multiple salts. Unlike all liquid electrolytes so far reported, the participation of several anionic groups in this electrolyte induces a larger diversity in solvation structures, unexpectedly decreasing solvation strengths between lithium ions and solvents/anions, facilitating lithium-ion diffusivity and the formation of stable interphase passivation layers. In comparison to the single-salt electrolytes, a low-concentration dimethyl ether electrolyte with four salts shows an enhanced cycling stability and rate capability. These findings, rationalized by the fundamental relationship between entropy-dominated solvation structures and ion transport, bring forward high-entropy electrolytes as a composition-rich and unexplored space for lithium batteries and beyond.

Utilization of genetic testing in men with advanced prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Genetic evaluation of men with advanced prostate cancer is recognized as imperative both to guide treatment decisions and to trigger cascade genetic testing of family members. Here we investigate utilization patterns of genetic testing among a contemporary cohort of men with advanced prostate cancer at our institution. METHODS: We queried the Northwestern Electronic Data Warehouse from January 2021 to present for all men diagnosed with National Comprehensive Cancer Network high-risk/very high-risk, regional, or metastatic prostate cancer. Patients were excluded from analyses if treated at an outside institution and/or presented for a second opinion evaluation. Statistics were performed using t-test, Chi-squared test, and univariable and multivariable logistic regression with significance defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Atotal of 320 men (52.5%) had local/regional disease and 290 (47.5%) had metastatic disease, 53 (18.3%) of whom had castrate resistant prostate cancer. Rates of germline genetic testing rate were low in patients with localized disease (9.4%) and metastatic disease (34.1%). Only 19 (35.8%) men diagnosed with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer underwent germline genetic evaluation. Germline testing was most frequently discussed or ordered by medical oncologists (52%) followed by urologists (20%). Men who underwent germline testing were younger (p < 0.001), more likely to have Medicaid or private insurance (p = 0.002), and more likely to have metastatic disease (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in baseline PSA, ethnicity, race, or castration sensitivity status. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.97, p < 0.001) and metastatic disease (OR: 5.71, 95% CI: 3.63-9.22, p < 0.001) were significant independent predictors of genetic testing on multivariable logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: Here we report that utilization of genetic testing is associated with metastatic disease and inversely associated with age. Overall, utilization rates of genetic testing remain low in all patient groups, including in the metastatic castrate resistant setting, where genetic testing can identify patients with homologous recombination repair deficiency who may benefit from use of targeted therapeutics such as PARP inhibitors. Genetic testing in men with aggressive prostate cancer is critical and barriers to routine implementation of testing require further study to develop strategies to improve utilization rates.

Entropy-Driven Liquid Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries.

Developing liquid electrolytes with higher kinetics and enhanced interphase stability is one of the key challenges for lithium batteries. However, the poor solubility of lithium salts in solvents sets constraints that compromises the electrolyte properties. Here, it is shown that introducing multiple salts to form a high-entropy solution, alters the solvation structure, which can be used to raise the solubility of specific salts and stabilize electrode-electrolyte interphases. The prepared high-entropy electrolytes significantly enhance the cycling and rate performance of lithium batteries. For lithium-metal anodes the reversibility exceeds 99%, which extends the cycle life of batteries even under aggressive cycling conditions. For commercial batteries, combining a graphite anode with a LiNi0.8 Co0.1 Mn0.1 O2 cathode, more than 1000 charge-discharge cycles are achieved while maintaining a capacity retention of more than 90%. These performance improvements with respect to regular electrolytes are rationalized by the unique features of the solvation structure in high-entropy electrolytes. The weaker solvation interaction induced by the higher disorder results in improved lithium-ion kinetics, and the altered solvation composition leads to stabilized interphases. Finally, the high-entropy, induced by the presence of multiple salts, enables a decrease in melting temperature of the electrolytes and thus enables lower battery operation temperatures without changing the solvents.

Evaluation of thermo-adaptability between Tharparkar (Bos indicus) and crossbred (Bos indicus X Bos taurus) calves in a controlled environment.

The global warming driven climate change has increased the susceptibility of livestock around the globe to heat stress (HS), which reduces animal productivity and threatens the sustainability of marginal farmers. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate thermo-adaptability between Tharparkar calves (TC), an indigenous milch breed of India and crossbred calves (CC) during induced heat stress in controlled environment. For this purpose, 12 apparently healthy male calves (six in each group) aged 5-6 months, were selected. The experiment was conducted at physiologically comfortable temperature (25 °C), moderate HS (31 °C) and severe HS (37 °C) for 21 days each in a psychrometric chamber. In each experimental day, the calves were exposed to 6 h of heat. There were 7 days of acclimatization period before experiment and 10 days of recovery period at ambient temperature between each 21 day exposure period. During experimental period, the blood was collected at 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st day and among ten-day recovery period the blood was collected at 5th day. Physiological responses, serum electrolytes, metabolic enzymes profiles, antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress status and general endocrine milieu were studied. Relative mRNA expression study of Heat Shock Protein (HSP) 70, HSP90, induced Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) were carried out by qPCR. There was significant (p < 0.05) change in the displacement in rectal temperature, respiration rate, serum alanine aminotransferase level between two breeds at moderate and severe HS. Similar change was observed in total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and endocrinological parameters. The comparatively lower mRNA expression of HSP70 and higher expression of HSP90 in TC than CC point the better thermo-adaptability of the same. The results of the experiment indicated that TC are more thermo-adaptable than CC at different modality of stress in controlled temperature conditions.

Downregulated luteolytic pathways in the transcriptome of early pregnancy bovine corpus luteum are mimicked by interferon-tau in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Maintenance of the corpus luteum (CL) beyond the time of luteolysis is essential for establishing pregnancy. Identifying the distinct features of early pregnancy CL remains unresolved, hence we analyzed here the transcriptome of CL on day 18 pregnant (P) and non-pregnant (NP) cows using RNA-Seq. CL of P cows expressed ISGs, verifying exposure to the pregnancy recognition signal, interferon-tau (IFNT), whereas the CL of NP cows had elevated luteal progesterone levels, implying that luteolysis had not yet commenced. RESULTS: The DEGs, IPA, and metascape canonical pathways, along with GSEA analysis, differed markedly in the CL of P cows from those of NP cows, at the same day of the cycle. Both metascape and IPA identified similar significantly enriched pathways such as interferon alpha/beta, sonic hedgehog pathway, TNFA, EDN1, TGFB1, and PDGF. However, type-1 interferon and sonic hedgehog pathways were positively enriched whereas most of the enriched pathways were downregulated in the P compared to NP samples. Thirty-four % of these pathways are known to be elevated by PGF2A during luteolysis. Notably, selective DEGs in luteinized granulosa cells were modulated by IFNT in vitro in a similar manner to their regulation in the CL of P cows. CONCLUSION: This study unraveled the unique transcriptomic signature of the IFNT-exposed, early pregnancy CL, highlighting the abundance of downregulated pathways known to be otherwise induced during luteolysis. These and IFNT-regulated in vitro pregnancy-specific DEGs suggest that IFNT contributes to the characteristics and maintenance of early pregnancy CL.