Group or individual housing does not reduce socio-sexual and reproductive responses in anestrous goats during the first contact with the photo-stimulated buck.

Herein, we examined the effect of the type of housing (individual vs group housing) of anestrus female goats on plasma cortisol concentrations and socio-sexual behaviors during first contact with photo-stimulated male goats and determined the impact on sexual and reproductive responses after 15 d of contact with photo-stimulated males. Therefore, after weaning, 10 females each were individually and group-housed, respectively. Ten bucks were rendered sexually active by exposure to artificially long days (16 h of light and 8 h of darkness per day) for 2.5 mo. During the naturally increasing photoperiod, 15-mo-old females were exposed and maintained with males. On day 0, during the first contact with males, individually- and group-housed females exhibited similar plasma cortisol concentrations (22.6 vs 27.4 ng/mL, respectively). Likewise, socio-sexual behaviors did not differ between examined groups on day 0. Moreover, the interval from first contact with males to the first estrus, short and normal ovulatory cycles, ovulation, fertility, and prolificacy rates were similar between differently housed females. Furthermore, mounting attempts did not differ between males in contact with either female group. In conclusion, individually- and group-housed anestrus females displayed elevated and similar plasma cortisol concentrations during first contact with photo-stimulated males and similar socio-sexual behaviors and reproductive responses when exposed to photo-stimulated males.

Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates the LPS/IFNγ-induced inflammatory response by inducing ubiquitin-proteosomal and lysosomal degradation of RelA/p65.

Several studies have identified the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a negative regulator of the innate and adaptive immune responses. However, the molecular mechanisms by which this transcription factor exerts such modulatory effects are not well understood. Interaction between AhR and RelA/p65 has previously been reported. RelA/p65 is the major NFκB subunit that plays a critical role in immune responses to infection. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the activation of AhR disrupted RelA/p65 signaling in mouse peritoneal macrophages by decreasing its half-life. The data demonstrate that the activation of AhR by TCDD and ß-naphthoflavone (ß-NF) decreased protein levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12 after macrophage activation with LPS/IFNγ. In an AhR-dependent manner, TCDD treatment induces RelA/p65 ubiquitination and proteosomal degradation, an effect dependent on AhR transcriptional activity. Activation of AhR also induced lysosome-like membrane structure formation in mouse peritoneal macrophages and RelA/p65 lysosome-dependent degradation. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that AhR activation promotes RelA/p65 protein degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome system, as well as through the lysosomes, resulting in decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) induce vasodilation in isolated rat aortic rings.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are used in biological systems with impact in biomedicine in order to improve diagnostics and treatment of diseases. However, their effects upon the vascular system, are not fully understood. Endothelium and smooth muscle cells (SMC) communicate through release of vasoactive factors as nitric oxide (NO) to maintain vascular tone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SWCNTs on vascular tone using isolated rat aortic rings, which were exposed to SWCNTs (0.1, 1 and 10 µg/mL) in presence and absence of endothelium. SWCNTs induced vasodilation in both conditions, indicating that this effect was independent on endothelium; moreover that vasodilation was NO-independent, since its blockage with L-NAME did not modify the observed effect. Together, these results indicate that SWCNTs induce vasodilation in the macrovasculature, may be through a direct interaction with SMC rather than endothelium independent of NO production. Further investigation is required to fully understand the mechanisms of action and mediators involved in the signaling pathway induced by SWCNTs on the vascular system.

Greenhouse gas emissions from stabilization ponds in subtropical climate.

Waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are a cost-efficient method to treat municipal and non-toxic industrial effluents. Numerous studies have shown that WSPs are a source of greenhouse gas (GHG). However, most reports concerned anaerobic ponds (AP) and few have addressed GHG emissions from facultative (FP) and aerobic/maturation ponds (MPs). In this paper, GHG emissions from three WSP in series are presented. These WSPs were designed as anaerobic, facultative and aerobic/maturation and were treating agricultural wastewater. CH4 fluxes from 0.6 +/- 0.4 g CH4 m(-2) d(-1) in the MP, to 7.0 +/- 1.0 g CH4 m(-2) d(-1) in the (AP), were measured. A linear correlation was found between the loading rates of the ponds and CH4 emissions. Relatively low CO2 fluxes (0.2 +/- 0.1 to 1.0 +/- 0.8 g CO2 m(-2) d(-1)) were found, which suggest that carbonate/bicarbonate formation is caused by alkaline pH. A mass balance performed showed that 30% of the total chemical oxygen demand removed was converted to CH4. It has been concluded that the WSP system studied emits at least three times more GHG than aerobic activated sludge systems and that the surface loading rate is the most important design parameter for CH4 emissions.

Serum IL-12 is increased in Mexican obese subjects and associated with low-grade inflammation and obesity-related parameters.

Interleukin-(IL-) 12 has been recently suggested to participate during development of insulin resistance in obese mice. Nevertheless, serum IL-12 levels have not been accurately determined in overweight and obese humans. We thus studied serum concentrations of IL-12 in Mexican adult individuals, examining their relationship with low-grade inflammation and obesity-related parameters. A total of 147 healthy individuals, 43 normal weight, 61 overweight, and 43 obese subjects participated in the study. Circulating levels of IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α ), leptin, insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were measured after overnight fasting in all of the study subjects. Waist circumference and body fat percentage were recorded for all the participants. Serum IL-12 was significantly higher in overweight and obese individuals than in normal weight controls. Besides being strongly related with body mass index (r = 0.5154), serum IL-12 exhibited a significant relationship with abdominal obesity (r = 0.4481), body fat percentage (r = 0.5625), serum glucose (r = 0.3158), triglyceride (r = 0.3714), and TNF- α (r = 0.4717). Thus, serum levels of IL-12 are increased in overweight and obese individuals and show a strong relationship with markers of low-grade inflammation and obesity in the Mexican adult population. Further research is needed to understand the role of IL-12 in developing obesity-associated alterations in humans.

Hypoxia inducible factor promotes murine allergic airway inflammation and is increased in asthma and rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: New therapies are necessary to address inadequate asthma control in many patients. This study sets out to investigate whether hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is essential for development of allergic airway inflammation (AAI) and therefore a potential novel target for asthma treatment. METHODS: Mice conditionally knocked out for HIF-1ß were examined for their ability to mount an allergic inflammatory response in the lung after intratracheal exposure to ovalbumin. The effects of treating wild-type mice with either ethyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (EDHB) or 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME), which upregulate and downregulate HIF, respectively, were determined. HIF-1α levels were also measured in endobronchial biopsies and bronchial fluid of patients with asthma and nasal fluid of patients with rhinitis after challenge. RESULTS: Deletion of HIF-1ß resulted in diminished AAI and diminished production of ovalbumin-specific IgE and IgG(1) . EDHB enhanced the inflammatory response, which was muted upon simultaneous inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). EDHB and 2ME antagonized each other with regard to their effects on airway inflammation and mucus production. The levels of HIF-1α and VEGF increased in lung tissue and bronchial fluid of patients with asthma and in the nasal fluid of patients with rhinitis after challenge. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the notion that HIF is directly involved in the development of AAI. Most importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that HIF-1α is increased after challenge in patients with asthma and rhinitis. Therefore, we propose that HIF may be a potential therapeutic target for asthma and possibly for other inflammatory diseases.

Ube2l3 gene expression is modulated by activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor: implications for p53 ubiquitination.

Exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon and environmental contaminant, results in several deleterious effects, including fetal malformation and cancer. These effects are mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated receptor that regulates the expression of genes encoding xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. Several reports suggest that AhR function is beyond the adaptive chemical response. In the present study, we analyzed and compared gene expression profiles of C57BL/6N wild-type (WT) and Ahr-null mice. DNA microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed changes in the expression of genes involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). UPS has an important role in cellular homeostasis control and dysfunction of this pathway has been implicated in the development of several human pathologies. Protein ubiquitination is a multi-step enzymatic process that regulates the stability, function, and/or localization of the modified proteins. This system is highly regulated post-translationally by covalent modifications. However, little information regarding the transcriptional regulation of the genes encoding ubiquitin (Ub) proteins is available. Therefore, we investigated the role of the AhR in modulation of the UPS and regulation of Ube2l3 transcription, an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, as well as the effects on p53 degradation. Our results indicate that AhR inactivation decreases on liver proteasome activity, probably due to a down-regulation on the expression of several proteasome subunits. On the other hand, AhR activation increases Ube2l3 mRNA and protein levels by controlling Ube2l3 gene expression, resulting in increased p53 ubiquitination and degradation. In agreement with this, induction of apoptosis was attenuated by the AhR activation.

Biofiltration of methanol in an organic biofilter using peanut shells as medium.

Biofiltration consists of a filter-bed of organic matter serving both as carrier for the active biomass and as nutrient supply, through which the polluted gas passes. The selection of a suitable medium material is of major importance to ensure optimum biofilter efficiency. Peanut shells are an agricultural byproduct locally available in large quantities at a low price in most tropical and sub-tropical countries. A previous study showed that peanut shells are physically and chemically suitable for biofiltration. This paper presents the results obtained during a six month biofiltration experiment using peanut shells as medium and methanol as air pollutant. It is shown that peanut shells are potentially suitable as biofiltration medium, since degradation rates of up to 30 kg MeOH/m(3)d with an empty bed residence time of 19s was obtained. The biofilter showed a good resistance to shock load and no operational problems were observed.

Estudio clínico-genético molecular de la fibrosis quística en la V Región, Chile / Clinical and molecular genetic study of cystic fibrosis in the 5th Region of Chile

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease in Caucasian population. More than 900 mutations have been detected in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) gene. The most common worldwide, is a deletion of phenylalanine 508 (delta F508). AIM: To analyze the presence of mutations delta F508, G542X, N1303K, G551D, R553X and S549N in patients from the 5th Region of Chile, with a clinical diagnosis of CF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 17 non-related patients, presenting frequent respiratory tract infections, malabsorption and positive sweat tests, or meconial ileum. Serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), and total, CD3+ and B-lymphocytes, were determined to discard the presence of an immune deficiency. The molecular study of the gene was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification and restriction analysis. RESULTS: Immunological parameters were normal in all patients. The delta F508 mutation was detected in 11 chromosomes and the mutation G542X in 3 chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS: The mutation G542X was the second most frequent mutation found in this sample of Chilean CF patients. Since this mutation has a high frequency in Spanish CF patients, we suggest that this mutation might have had its origin in Spain.

[Congenital atrioventricular junction tachycardia. Favorable response to anti-arrhythmia agents]. / Taquicardia congénita de la unión A-V. respuesta favorable a los antiarrítmicos.

The congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia, is an unusual tachyarrhythmia, with early clinic manifestation and poor antiarrhythmic drugs response with a great infant mortality reaching rates of 35%. It deserves a special attention in its timely detection as well as in its appropriate handling with different modalities of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy. We reported two cases in which age of presentation of tachyarrhythmia was at three months and whose particularity was the good response to antiarrhythmic drugs; verapamil and later propafenone, used for the acute stages and a combination of propafenone plus propranolol initially for the chronic stage. Due to intolerance it was necessary to change the treatment after a year for sotalol and digital with good response. We review the literature about this topic.

Isosorbide aerosol: an option for the treatment of hypertensive crises.

In this study the authors assessed the effectiveness and safety of isosorbide dinitrate aerosol administered through the oral mucosa in 30 adult patients who presented with a hypertensive crisis (mean arterial pressure > 130 mm Hg and evidence of target organ damage). The patients were given a first dose of 1.25 mg of aerosol when they were admitted to the hospital; a second dose was administered 15 minutes later if the mean arterial pressure had not decreased by > 15%. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained for every patient immediately prior to and 30 minutes after administration of the medication. Nine patients (30%) had a good response with one dose, whereas 21 patients (70%) required a second dose. All 30 patients had a significant reduction of the arterial blood pressure (187+/-13 / 121+/-6.6 to 153+/-15.3 / 92.3+/-7.6 mm Hg; p<0.005) as well as of the mean arterial pressure (136.6+/-8 to 109.5+/-7 mm Hg; p<0.005) in a period of 30 minutes. No adverse effects, rebound hypertension, or severe hypotension were observed. These figures remained under control for 6 hours. Two of the patients had angina pectoris at admission and their ECG showed subepicardial ischemia, both of which disappeared with the medication. A second ECG appeared normal. A reduction of 14% in heart rate was obtained (95+/-15 to 82+/-14 beats per minute; p<0.005). These observations suggest that isosorbide dinitrate aerosol is an effective and safe alternative for the treatment of patients with hypertensive crises.

[Polycythemia in the newborn. III: blood volume in asphyxia and meconium]. / Policitemia en el recién nacido. III: volumen sanguíneo en asfixia y meconio.

Several authors had reported high blood volumes (BV) and Low placental residual blood volumes (PRBV) in hypoxic human newborns, and also in asphyxiated experimentally animals. Those findings could be explained by and exaggerated intrauterine placental transfusion, ante or intrapartum. The authors had observed high cord blood and 24-48 hs. hematocrits in meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) and/or low 1 minute Apgar score newborns (Nb), despite early cord clamping. Sometimes, by delaying cord clamping up to 1 minute, those hematocrits had a tendency to decrease, instead of increasing. In view of that, it was decided to measure BV in a small group of similar type of Nb's with Evans blue (T-1824) and to practice in some of them a delayed cord clamping, but elevating the infant above the introitus (DECC). The BV values obtained were a little higher than the ones from the literature, being the most elevated in Nb's with MSAF and the lowest from cesarean. Also, the early cord clamping babies had higher BV than the DECC. All the MSAF Nb's had low plasmatic BV. BV was positively related to Birth Weight and the Hematocrit, and inversely to the Apgar score and the cord blood pH. Unexpectedly, delayed cord clamping was only slightly related to Red Cell BV, not to BV. MSAF constitutes 10% of all deliveries and delayed cord clamping has to be re-evaluated, because it offers a good chance for those babies of developing a normal BV or Hct's.

[Experience with the use of a subcutaneous venous access system in 57 pediatric patients]. / Experiencia con el uso de un sistema de acceso venoso subcutáneo en 57 pacientes pediátricos.

Since May of 1983 to December of 1988, 62 subcutaneous venous reservoires were implanted in 57 pediatric patients; 29 were boys and the remaining 28 were girls between the ages of 2 and 18 years. Fifty-one patients had malignant illnesses and seven other pathologies. The reservoir was used for the endovenous administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy and antibiotics, hidration, nutrition, the transfusion of blood product and the extraction of samples for laboratory tests. In our experience the most important complication was the infection of the system, on the average 0.06 episodes of infections occurred for every 100 days per reservoir. Other complications observed were less frequent. In our opinion the subcutaneous reservoir represents an useful tool for the care of the pediatric patients who require a central venous catheter for long periods of time.

[A change in glomerular permeability in renovascular hypertension. Participation of angiotensin and structural lesions]. / Alteración de la permeabilidad glomerular en hipertensión renovascular. Participación de angiotensina y lesiones estructurales.

To characterize the decrease in glomerular permeability that occurs in contralateral kidney of renovascular hypertension, glomerular hemodynamics were studied in Goldblatt hypertensive and normotensive control rats. The effects of converting enzyme inhibition (captopril) and renal vasodilatation induced with hyperoncotic plasma were evaluated: in addition, glomerular morphometry was performed. In hypertension, glomerular capillary pressure was increased, ultrafiltration coefficient was decreased, single-nephron filtration rate was normal and afferent resistance was elevated. Captopril rose glomerular filtration rate only in normotensive rats, but ultrafiltration coefficient increased in both groups. Hyperoncotic plasma induced a 98% increment in filtration rate and ultrafiltration coefficient rose by 48% in normotensive group. In hypertensive rats, filtration rate increased only 15% and ultrafiltration coefficient diminished 6%, morphometric studies showed dilatation of capillary loops and a larger glomerular volume. Similar response to captopril in both groups of rats suggest that the reduction in ultrafiltration coefficient in hypertension is not dependent of angiotensin; lack of response to hyperoncotic plasma suggests that it could be produced by structural changes in capillary wall that diminish hydraulic permeability since the larger glomerular volume indicates a greater area for filtration.

Sensibilidad del canal anal de sujetos normales y pacientes tratados quirurgicamente de malformacion anorrectal: estudio mediante la tecnica de potenciales provocados. / Sensitivity of the anal canal in normal subjects and in patients surgically treated of anorectal malformation, study with evocked potentials technic

En condiciones fisioloficas la actividad motora que se lleva a cabo en el acto de defecacion depende de la informacion sensorial proveniente de la region del canal anal; sin embargo, en los estudios sobre el problema de incontinencia anal en pacientes con malformacion anorrectal tratados quirurgicamente, muy poco se ha tomado en cuenta el factor percepcion. Con el objetivo de determinar si existen diferencias en la actividad electrica de la via sensorial que se origina en los receptores del canal anal de sujetos normales y aquella de pacientes tratados quirurgicamente para correccion de malformacion anorrectal se estudiaron mediante la tecnica de potenciales, provocados 22 ninos aparentemente sanos y 11 pacientes. Nuestros resultados demuestran una actividad electrica de la via sensorial de los pacientes de menor intensidad y de conduccion ma lenta que la de los sujetos normales; inclusive en algunos pacientes no aparecio actividad Se sugiere que la alteracion sensorial podria ser en parte responsable de la incontiencia anal que pueda presentarse posteriormente en estos pacientes

Cirugia biliar y embarazo. / Biliary surgery and pregnancy

Se estudia "prospectivamente" un grupo de 20 pacientes embarazadas, intervenidas por patologia aguda de la via biliar, entre octubre de 1980 y septiembre de 1981 en el Hospital Doctor Sotero del Rio. Los datos obtenidos nos permiten concluir: 1. La indicacion mas frecuente de cirugia no obstetrica durante el embarazo, en nuestro medio, es de causa biliar. 2. El cuadro biliar agudo se presenta con las mismas caracteristicas clinicas que en la no gravida. 3. No se encontraron caracteristicas que definan un grupo de alto riesgo para desarrollar patologia biliar aguda durante la gestacion. 4. La cirugia en la segunda mitad del embarazo y aquella que comprende drenaje de la via biliar, se asocian con alta morbilidad obstetrica y perinatal pese a lo cual no determino mortalidad perinatal en la serie