Triheptanoin, an odd-medium-chain triglyceride, impacts brain cognitive function in young and aged mice.

ABSTRACTThe brain aging process triggers cognitive function impairment, such as memory loss and compromised quality of life. Cognitive impairment is based on bioenergetic status, with reduced glucose uptake and metabolism in aged brains. Anaplerotic substrates are reported to promote mitochondrial ATP generation, having been tested in clinical trials for the treatment of neurological disorders and metabolic diseases.Objectives and Methods: To assess whether the improvement in oxidative capacity ameliorates cognitive function in adults (12 weeks), and aged (22-month-old) C57/6BJ mice, they received (1) a ketogenic diet, (2) a ketogenic diet supplemented with the anaplerotic substance, triheptanoin, or (3) a control diet for 12 weeks. Spontaneous alternation and time spent in a previously closed arm in the Y-maze test and time interacting with an unknown object in the novel object recognition test (NORT) were used to evaluate working memory. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the prefrontal lobe, brain left hemisphere, and cerebellum was also evaluated. Glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) expression in the prefrontal lobe was analyzed by western blotting.Results: The ketogenic diet (KD) reduced spontaneous alternation in aged mice, leading to lower AChE activity in the aged prefrontal lobe and cerebellum, and in the parieto-temporal-occipital lobe of adult mice. Furthermore, KD decreased GLUT3 protein expression in the frontal lobe of the adults.Discussion: Supplementation of KD with triheptanoin prevented memory impairment and showed similar values of AChE activity and GLUT3 expression compared to the controls. Our data suggest that triheptanoin has a potential role in the bioenergetic capacity of the brain, improving cognitive function.

Manganese Defective Clustering: Influence on the Spectroscopic Features of Ceria-Based Nanomaterials.

The influence of manganese modification on the spectroscopic features of manganese-doped CeO2 systems synthesized by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal route and their correlation with the presence of O defective structures were verified, focusing on their interaction with poisonous atmospheres. Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance studies confirmed the presence of defective clusters formed by dipoles and/or quadrupoles. The number of paramagnetic species was found to be inversely proportional to the doping concentration, resulting in an increase in the Mn2+ signal, likely due to the reduction of Mn3+ species after the interaction with CO. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data showed the pure system with 33% of its cerium species in the Ce3+ configuration, with an abrupt decrease to 19%, after the first modification with Mn, suggesting that 14% of the Ce3+ species are donating one electron to the Mn2+ ions, thus becoming nonparamagnetic Ce4+ species. On the contrary, 58% of the manganese species remain in the Mn2+ configuration with five unpaired electrons, corroborating the paramagnetic feature of the samples seen in the electron paramagnetic resonance study.

LARVICIDE ACTIVITY OF LACTOBACILLUS SPP. AND SACCHAROMYCES BOULARDII SUPERNATANTS ON TOXOCARA CANIS.

Experimental studies have demonstrated the potential of probiotics to control visceral toxocariasis, which is a tissue parasitosis that is difficult to treat. This study evaluated the in vitro activity of probiotics and their supernatants on Toxocara canis larvae. The probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC 7469), Lactobacillus paracasei (ATCC 335), Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Bacillus cereus var. toyoi were tested in the following preparations: probiotic (P) 1 × 102 to 1 × 109 colony-forming units (CFUs), inactivated probiotic (IP) 1 × 102 to 1 × 109 CFUs, supernatant probiotic (SUpP), and inactivated probiotic supernatant (SupIP). The probiotics and their respective supernatants were separately incubated with 100 T. canis larvae per well using microculture plates with RPMI-1640 medium for 48 hr at 37 C and 5% CO2. The evaluation of the in vitro tests was based on the viability of T. canis larvae, through morphologic integrity, positive motility, and the absence of trypan blue stain. Only culture supernatants (SUpP and SUpIP) of Lactobacillus spp. resulted in 100% dead larvae, whereas S. boulardii showed larvicidal activity in T. canis >70%. The rest of the tests did not show larvicide activity. Therefore, it is important to investigate the supernatant effects of Lactobacillus spp. and S. boulardii in vivo on T. canis visceral infections, their mechanisms of action, and major metabolites involved.

Synthesis and defect characterization of hybrid ceria nanostructures as a possible novel therapeutic material towards COVID-19 mitigation.

This study reports the synthesis of hybrid nanostructures composed of cerium dioxide and microcrystalline cellulose prepared by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal route under distinct temperature and pH values. Their structural, morphological and spectroscopic behaviors were investigated by X-Rays Diffraction, Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Fourier-Transform Infrared, Ultraviolet-Visible, Raman and Positron Annihilation Lifetime spectroscopies to evaluate the presence of structural defects and their correlation with the underlying mechanism regarding the biocide activity of the studied material. The samples showed mean crystallite sizes around 10 nm, characterizing the formation of quantum dots unevenly distributed along the cellulose surface with a certain agglomeration degree. The samples presented the characteristic Ce-O vibration close to 450 cm-1 and a second-order mode around 1050 cm-1, which is indicative of distribution of localized energetic levels originated from defective species, essential in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species. Positron spectroscopic studies showed first and second lifetime components ranging between 202-223 ps and 360-373 ps, respectively, revealing the presence of two distinct defective oxygen species, in addition to an increment in the concentration of Ce3+-oxygen vacancy associates as a function of temperature. Therefore, we have successfully synthesized hybrid nanoceria structures with potential multifunctional therapeutic properties to be further evaluated against the COVID-19.

Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Thyroid Carcinoma in the Dog.

Thyroid carcinomas are a common form of endocrine neoplasia in dogs. In the present study, we combined histopathology with immunohistochemistry (IHC) to search for the presence of oestrogen receptor alpha (ORα), Cox-2 and Ki67 in canine thyroid carcinomas. Forty-eight thyroid carcinomas were diagnosed throughout the study period. Thyroglobulin and calcitonin IHC distinguished between thyroid tumours with a follicular and medullary (C-cell) origin, respectively. IHC-based diagnosis showed that 42 (87.50%) of the cases were follicular cell carcinoma. In these cases, the follicular-compact pattern was the most frequent (n = 20/42; 47.62%) and six cases (12.5%) were medullary cell (C-cell) carcinomas. Both medullary (C-cell) and follicular carcinomas expressed Ki67 and Cox-2. No differences were observed between medullary and follicular carcinomas with respect to expression of Ki67 (P = 0.34) and Cox-2 (P = 0.9523) markers. A total of 4.17% (n = 2/48) of thyroid carcinomas showed positive nuclear labelling for ORα, suggesting that oestrogen does not directly participate in the pathogenesis of canine thyroid neoplasia.

Presynchronization strategy using prostaglandin F2α, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and detection of estrus to improve fertility in a resynchronization program for dairy cows.

Objectives of experiment 1 were to evaluate pregnancy outcomes and reinsemination patterns of cows whose estrous cycles or ovulation were presynchronized with prostaglandin (PGF2α) or PGF2α and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) after non-pregnancy diagnosis in programs focusing on inseminating cows based on tail paint removal. Objectives of experiment 2 were to evaluate pregnancy outcomes and reinsemination patterns of cows with or without a corpus luteum (CL) present at non-pregnancy diagnosis in a program utilizing PGF2α and GnRH to presynchronize estrous cycles before resynchronization. Lactating Holstein cows from three herds were enrolled in the experiments at non-pregnancy diagnosis (d 0). Estrus was determined daily based on tail paint removal. In experiment 1, cows were assigned randomly to two treatments: (1) PGF2α on d 0 (n = 967; P7); and 2) PGF2α on d 0 and GnRH on d 7 (n = 962; P7G7). Cows not reinseminated based on tail paint removal were submitted to the timed-AI Cosynch-72 protocol 7 d after presynchronization treatments. Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) was greater (P = 0.01) for P7G7 cows than P7 cows. Cows inseminated based on tail paint removal had increased (P < 0.01) P/AI than cows submitted to the timed AI protocol. In addition, an interaction was detected (P = 0.03) between method of insemination and presynchronization treatment such that cows submitted to timed AI in the P7G7 treatment had greater P/AI than P7 cows. Nonetheless, P7 cows were inseminated at a faster rate (P < 0.01) than P7G7 cows. In experiment 2, presence of a CL was determined by transrectal ultrasonography at initiation of the P7G7 protocol (n = 1479). In a random subset of cows (n = 210), blood samples were collected immediately after ultrasound examination to determine progesterone concentration in order to evaluate accuracy of detection of a CL by ultrasonography. Accuracy of detection of a CL was 80%. Hazard to insemination and P/AI did not differ among cows regardless of CL status. In conclusion, herds relying mostly on detected estrus to reinseminate cows may achieve greater pregnancy outcomes if presynchronizing with PGF2α and GnRH instead of only PGF2α, albeit at a slower insemination rate. In addition, pregnancy outcomes and reinsemination patterns were similar for cows bearing or not bearing a CL when utilizing the P7G7 protocol, indicating a limited benefit of evaluating ovarian luteal structures by ultrasonography.

Unlimited access to low-energy diet causes acute malnutrition in dams and alters biometric and biochemical parameters in offspring.

Here we analyze the outcomes of unlimited access to a low-energy (LE) diet in dams and their offspring. At 3 weeks' gestation, pregnant Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) the control group received a normoenergetic diet; and (2) the experimental group received the LE diet. In dams, lactation outcomes, food intake, body weight, plasma IGF-1, prealbumin, transferrin and retinol-binding protein levels were evaluated; in offspring, biometric and biochemical parameters and food intake were evaluated. No differences were observed during pregnancy. However, after lactation, dams that received the LE diet demonstrated significant reductions in body weight (P<0.05), plasma IGF-1 (P=0.01), prealbumin and visceral fat (P<0.001). Pups born to dams that received the LE diet demonstrated reduced body length and weight at weaning (P<0.001) and were lighter than the control animals at the end of the experimental period. Pups also demonstrated reduced plasma, low-density lipoprotein (P=0.04), triglycerides (P=0.002) and glucose levels (P<0.05), and differences were noted in visceral fat. These results indicate that feeding dams with LE diet during the reproductive period induces acute malnutrition and impairs the growth and development of offspring, as well as certain metabolic parameters.

Cost management of medical equipment maintenance.

In the present study we combine Activity Based Costing (ABC) with a microprocess-based custom-made management system used to control of the medical equipment maintenance service performed by a clinical engineering group in a public health institution in Brazil. Results show the cost of service orders calculated through the allocation of the expenditure per cost center to activities performed during the year 2003. As this model can estimate how the activities affect profitability, managers can use ABC information to interpret possible strategies needed to investigate the viability of cost minimization.