[The need for an integrated approach to rhinitis and asthma] / La necesidad de un abordaje integrado de la rinitis y el asma.

Introduction: Several evidences support the concept of united airway and its pathophysiological, clinical, and therapeutic implications. The existence of rhinitis can generate greater difficulty in asthma control and higher direct and indirect health care costs, which is not sufficiently recognized by the majority of physicians who often treat them as separate entities. Objective: To examine witness evidence of the relationship between rhinitis and asthma that contributes to the integrated approach to both pathologies. Methods: A bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed (Medline), EBSCO, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases using MeSH and DeCS terms related to the clinical and therapeutic relationship between rhinitis and asthma. Results: Finally, 46 references describing the impact of rhinitis on the quality of life of patients with asthma and its therapeutic correlate were included. Conclusions: The treatment of both diseases based on this integrated model is imperative. Both, the endo-phenotypic recognition and the consequent therapeutic approach allow to the concomitant control of asthma and rhinitis and a decrease in their morbidity. Complementary therapeutic measures based on the concept "one airway, one disease" support the good clinical practices necessary to achieve the best therapeutic result.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Numerosas evidencias sustentan el concepto de unidad de la vía aérea y sus consiguientes implicancias fisiopatológicas, clínicas y terapéuticas. La existencia de rinitis puede generar una mayor dificultad para el control del asma y mayores costos sanitarios directos e indirectos, lo que no es suficientemente reconocido por la mayoría de los médicos que las tratan, generalmente, como entidades separadas. OBJETIVO: Examinar evidencias testigos de la relación entre rinitis y asma que favorezcan el abordaje integrado de ambas patologías. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en bases de datos PubMed (Medline), EBSCO, Scielo, Google Scholar utilizando términos MeSH y DeCS vinculados a la relación clínica y terapéutica entre rinitis y asma. RESULTADOS: Finalmente se incluyeron 46 referencias bibliográficas que describen el impacto de la rinitis sobre la calidad de vida de pacientes con asma y su correlato terapéutico. CONCLUSIONES: El tratamiento de ambas enfermedades fundamentado en un modelo integrado es imperativo. El reconocimiento endo-fenotípico conjunto y la decisión terapéutica consecuente permite en control simultáneo del asma y la rinitis y una disminución de su morbilidad. La adopción de medidas terapéuticas complementarias basadas en el concepto "una vía aérea, una única enfermedad" se corresponde con las buenas prácticas clínicas necesarias para lograr el mejor resultado terapéutico.

Fetal Programming Effects of a Mild Food Restriction During Pregnancy in Mice: How Does It Compare to Intragestational Ghrelin Administration?

To explore in mice if a 15% food restriction protocol during pregnancy programs the offspring postnatal development, with emphasis on reproductive function, and to assess if ghrelin (Ghrl) administration to mouse dams exerts effects that mimic those obtained under mild caloric restriction. Mice were 15% food-restricted, injected with 4 nmol/animal/day of Ghrl, or injected with the vehicle (control) thorough pregnancy. After birth, the pups did not receive further treatment. Pups born from food-restricted dams (FR pups) were lighter than Ghrl pups at birth, but reached normal weight at adulthood. Ghrl pups were heavier at birth and gained more weight than control pups (C pups). This effect was not associated with plasma IGF-1. FR pups showed a delay in pinna detachment and eye opening, while an advance was observed in Ghrl pups. FR pups showed also impairment in the surface-righting reflex. In both female FR and Ghrl pups, there was an advance in vaginal opening and, in adulthood, FR pups showed a significant decrease in their own litter size and plasma progesterone, and an increase in embryo loss. A delay in testicular descent was evident in male Ghrl pups. Changes in puberty onset were not associated with differences in the expression of Kiss1 in hypothalamic nuclei. Finally, in adulthood, FR pups showed a significant decrease in sperm quality. In conclusion, a mild food restriction thorough gestation exerted programming effects on the offspring, affecting also their reproductive function in adulthood. These effects were not similar to those of intragestational Ghrl administration.

Modulatory effects of ghrelin on sperm quality alterations induced by a fructose-enriched diet.

The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the effects of a fructose enriched diet (FED) on rat sperm quality, epididymal function (i.e. oxidative stress and alpha-glucosidase expression) and testosterone concentrations; 2) to determine if the administration of ghrelin (Ghrl), reverses the effects induced by FED. After validating the protocol as an inductor of metabolic syndrome like-symptoms, adult male rats were assigned to one of the following treatments for 8 weeks: FED = 10% fructose enriched in water (v/v); FED + Ghrl = fructose enriched diet plus Ghrl (6 nmol/animal/day, s.c.) from week 6-8; or C = water without fructose (n = 5-10 animals/group). FED significantly decreased sperm concentration and motile sperm count/ml vs C (FED: 19.0 ± 1.6 × 106sperm/ml and 834.6 ± 137.0, respectively vs C: 25.8 ± 2.8 × 106 and 1300.4 ± 202.4, respectively; p < 0.05); ghrelin injection reversed this negative effect (23.5 ± 1.6 × 106sperm/ml and 1381.7 ± 71.3 respectively). FED resulted in hypogonadism, but Ghrl could not normalize testosterone concentrations (C: 1.4 ± 0.1 ng/ml vs FED: 0.8 ± 0.2 ng/ml and FED + Ghrl: 0.6 ± 0.2 ng/ml; p < 0.05). Ghrelin did not reverse metabolic abnormalities secondary to FED. FED did not alter epididymal expression of antioxidants enzymes (superoxido-dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidases -Gpx-). Nevertheless, FED + Ghrl significantly increased the expression of Gpx3 (FED + Ghrl: 3.47 ± 0.48 vs FED: 0.69 ± 0.28 and C: 1.00 ± 0.14; p < 0.05). The expression of neutral alpha-glucosidase, which is a marker of epididymal function, did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, the administration of Ghrl modulated the negative effects of FED on sperm quality, possibly by an epididymal increase in Gpx3 expression. However, Ghrl could not neither normalize the metabolism of FED animals, nor reverse hypogonadism.

Food supplementation by an invasive fleshy-fruited shrub sustains body condition of a native frugivorous bird during winter.

Birds tend to adjust their behavior and physiology to changes in food availability in their environment. Seasonal fluctuation of food resources may act as an energetic challenge, augmenting hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) activity, leading to an increase in corticosterone concentrations and promoting the metabolism of energy stores. Plant invasions may alter seasonal food fluctuations by providing a food supply during scarce seasons. This could attenuate the energetic challenge, reducing HPA axis activity and the metabolism of reserves. Using a system with seasonal fluctuation in food availability, we tested if fruit supplementation by the invasive fleshy-fruited Pyracantha angustifolia during the season of native fruit scarcity decreases the consumption of energy stores through activity attenuation of the HPA axis. We measured changes in body condition and circulating corticosterone (CORT) concentration in Turdus chiguanco occurring at sites both invaded and not invaded by P. angustifolia over 3 time periods that correspond to the periods prior to, during and after highest fruit production of the plant. Fruit scarcity in the ecosystem appears as an energetic challenge for T. chiguanco, given that body mass, fat score and residuals of body mass/tarsus length decreased during winter in a site not invaded by the exotic shrub. Conversely, the presence of the invasive plant seemed to attenuate the metabolism of energetic reserves, as we did not record changes in body condition in birds inhabiting the invaded site. Unexpectedly, plasma CORT concentration did not vary between sites or periods. Further evaluation is required to elucidate how enhanced body condition, resulting from the consumption of a fleshy-fruited invasive plant, affects survivorship and reproductive performance in T. chiguanco.

Validation of an enzyme immunoassay and comparison of fecal cortisol metabolite levels in black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) inhabiting fragmented and continuous areas of the humid Chaco region, Argentina.

In the last years, the study of how environmental stimuli influence the physiology and specifically the endocrinology of an organism became increasingly important, relying mainly on the quantification of glucocorticoids to monitor animal welfare. Most studies investigating cortisol levels in primates were focused on the impact of social stressors; however, a major concern for the conservation of howler monkeys is the increased habitat fragmentation led by the advancement of the agricultural frontier. We compared fecal cortisol metabolite levels (FGCM) in howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) living in fragmented and continuous forests of the Argentine humid Chaco region, throughout the warm season (spring-summer). Fecal samples (n = 114) were collected from adult individuals, and steroid extracts analyzed with an enzyme immunoassay also validated in this work. Parallel displacement curves were obtained between dilutions of pooled fecal extracts and the cortisol standard curve (r2 = 0.99; P = 0.23). Efficiency of the fecal extraction procedure was 79.4% ± 38%; recovery of exogenous hormone added to fecal extracts indicated a low interference of components in the feces with antibody binding. The exogenous administration of ACTH in captive-bred animals demonstrated a "cause-and-effect" relationship between the adrenal gland activation and increased FGCM levels. Contrary to our initial prediction, we were not able to demonstrate a significant difference in FGCM levels of caraya monkeys inhabiting the continuous versus fragmented habitats in our study site (83.2 ± 4.9 ng/g [n = 10 individuals] vs. 71.5 ± 4.9 ng/g [n = 7 individuals]; P = 0.29); this could be the result of low levels of disturbance imposed by a moderate and selective logging, which has proved to be beneficial for this species with high resilience by adjusting their diet to cope with feeding in degraded habitats but with new leaves and buds. Regardless of the habitat, cortisol metabolites were significantly higher in females than in males (86.4 ± 4.2 ng/g [n = 12 individuals] vs. 60.7 ± 5.0 ng/g [n = 5 individuals] respectively; P = 0.007). RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Validation of an enzyme immunoassay and comparison of fecal cortisol metabolite levels in black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) inhabiting fragmented and continuous areas of the humid Chaco region, Argentina. Contrary to our initial prediction, no significant differences in Alouatta caraya fecal cortisol metabolite levels were detected; cortisol metabolites were significantly higher in females. Probably, animals adjusted their diet to cope with feeding in degraded habitats, but with new leaves and buds.

Year-round testicular volume and semen quality evaluations in captive Chinchilla lanigera.

In mammals, reproductive performance is usually associated with seasons. Chinchilla lanigera, an endemic South American rodent, reproduces throughout the year in captivity but its seasonal breeding pattern is not fully understood. The present study was designed to evaluate (bi-weekly) over 1 year: (1) testicular volume variations and (2) seminal volume, sperm concentration and functional activity changes. Five animals were studied; they were individually housed indoors (22.2 +/- 1.0 degrees C) under natural photoperiod in Argentina (Córdoba, 31 degrees S-64 degrees W). Semen was obtained by electroejaculation; a total of 116 ejaculates was evaluated. Monthly values for paired testicular volume were less in the middle of the summer than in other seasons (p < 0.006), while those for seminal volume and total spermatozoa/ejaculate were not significantly different; these variables ranged between 7.2-30.9 cm(3), 10-130 microL and 0.9-432.6 x 10(6), respectively. Spermatozoa concentration was (x 10(6)/mL) 2145.9 +/- 365.3 and the pH of semen was 7.3 +/- 0.0. Spermatozoa functional activity showed no significant differences between monthly evaluations; confidence intervals were calculated for the means of: motility, 92.2-95.8%; viability, 92.2-96.1%; swollen cells (hypo-osmotic swelling test), 81.2-87.7% and viable intact acrosome, 83.5-89.0%. The present study represents the first longitudinal reproductive assessment in the chinchilla male. In conclusion, males produce spermatozoa continuously that exhibit high quality functional activity.

Assessment of urine and fecal testosterone metabolite excretion in Chinchilla lanigera males.

Endemic chinchilla (Chinchilla spp.) populations are nearly extinct in the wild (South America). In captive animals (Chinchilla lanigera and C. brevicaudata), reproduction is characterized by poor fertility and limited by seasonal breeding patterns. Techniques applied for studying male reproductive physiology in these species are often invasive and stressful (i.e. repeated blood sampling for sexual steroids analysis). To evaluate endocrine testicular function, the present experiments were designed to (a) determine the main route of testosterone excretion (14C-testosterone infusion in four males); (b) validate urine and fecal testosterone metabolite measurements (HPLC was used to separate metabolites and immunoreactivity was assessed in all metabolites using a commercial testosterone radioimmunoassay, and parallelism, accuracy and precision tests were conducted to validate the immunoassay); and (c) investigate the biological relevance of the techniques applied (quantification of testosterone metabolite excretion into urine and feces from five males injected with hCG and comparison between 10 males and 10 females). Radiolabelled metabolites of 14C-testosterone were excreted, 84.7+/-4.2 % in urine and 15.2+/-3.9 % in feces. A total of 82.7+/-4.2% of urinary and 45.7+/-13.6% of fecal radioactivity was excreted over the first 24 h period post-infusion (metabolite concentration peaked at 8.2+/-2.5 h and 22.0+/-7.0 h, respectively). Several urinary and fecal androgen metabolites were separated by HPLC but only fecal metabolites were associated with native testosterone; however, there was immunoreactivity in more than one metabolite derived from 14C-testosterone. After hCG administration, an increase in androgen metabolite excretion was observed (p<0.05). Males excreted greater amounts daily of urinary androgen metabolites as compared with females (p<0.05); this difference was not evident in feces. Results of the present study indicate that the procedure used is a reliable and non-invasive method to repeatedly monitor variations in testicular endocrine activity in this species. It can be a useful tool that would help ensure the survival of the wild populations as well as to provide the basis for a more efficient use by the fur industry.