Intensity-modulated radiation therapy administered to a previously irradiated spine is effective and well-tolerated.

PURPOSE: This study sought to discern the clinical outcomes of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) administered to the spine in patients who had undergone previous radiotherapy. METHODS: A total of 81 sites of 74 patients who underwent previous radiotherapy administered to the spine or peri-spine and subsequently received IMRT for the spine were analyzed in this study. The prescribed dose of 80 Gy in a biologically effective dose (BED) of α/ß = 10 (BED10) was set as the planning target volume. The constraint for the spinal cord and cauda equine was D0.1 cc ≤ 100 Gy and ≤ 150 Gy of BED for re-irradiation alone and the total irradiation dose, respectively. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 10.1 (0.9-92.1) months after re-irradiation, while the median interval from the last day of the previous radiotherapy to the time of re-irradiation was 15.6 (0.4-210.1) months. Separately, the median prescript dose of re-irradiation was 78.0 (28.0-104.9) of BED10. The median survival time in this study was 13.9 months, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 53.7%, 29.3%, and 26.6%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year local control rates were 90.8%, 84.0%, and 84.0%, respectively. Neurotoxicity was observed in two of 72 treatments (2.8%) assessed after re-irradiation. CONCLUSION: Re-irradiation for the spine using IMRT seems well-tolerated. Definitive re-irradiation can be a feasible treatment option in patients with the potential for a good prognosis.

The use of ultrasonography in the reproductive evaluation of boars.

The objective was to study the use of ultrasound as a complementary test in the breeding soundness evaluation in male pigs and study the pattern of echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma in boars of different racial groups. Twenty-six adult boars from four different racial groups were used, 10 from the Piau breed (group 1), four from the commercial and finishing group (group 2), six Pietrain breed (group 3) and six from the Duroc breed (group 4). All animals were evaluated for breeding soundness evaluation and the ultrasound examination of the testicles. The groups of animals that were evaluated showed no difference in the main semen parameters that were evaluated, except for the sperm volume, concentration of the ejaculated sperm and the supravital staining; the lowest figures were for the animals from the Piau breed (group 1). In relation to the testicular biometrics, Duroc animals (group 4) had a greater scrotal width compared to the other groups. But when we assessed the intensity of pixels of the testicles, there was a difference between groups. The groups 2 (finishing animals), 3 (Pietrain) and 4 had no difference between themselves. Group 3 had greater pixel intensity in relation to group 1. Of the 26 animals studied, five showed an abnormality during ultrasound evaluation, like hydrocele, hyperechoic mass in the testicular parenchyma, cyst in the head of the epididymis and the presence of fluid in the head and tail of the epididymis. The various animal groups studied did not differ in the principal reproductive parameters evaluated, showing that despite the great variability of reproductive traits between breeds and within the same breed, the breeding soundness evaluation, the more complete it is, is essential for the selection of breeders and the ultrasonography of the reproductive system becomes an important addition in this examination.

Adição da proteína específica do oviduto de porcas (pOSP) e da melatonina em meios de maturação e o efeito na clivagem in vitro de embriões suínos / Addition of the oviduct specific protein of porcine (pOSP) and melatonin in maturation media and their effect on the in vitro production of pig embryos

No presente estudo, utilizou-se a melatonina e a proteína específica do oviduto (pOSP) nos meios de maturação in vitro. Foram avaliadas a expansão do complexo cumulus-ovócito (CCOs), as concentrações intracelulares de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) e o desenvolvimento embrionário nos diferentes grupos (C = controle; T1 = somente com melatonina; T2 = com melatonina e pOSP e T3 somente com pOSP). No tocante à expansão do CCOs, houve diferença (P<0,05) dos valores obtidos no grupo C em relação aos valores médios dos grupos T1, T2 e T3, porém não houve diferença entre os valores obtidos nos tratamentos (P>0,05). Na dosagem de ROS, não houve diferença entre os valores médios obtidos no grupo C (26,4±10,9) e o valor verificado no grupo T1 (23,4±7,8), porém no grupo T2 (21,3±9,7) o valor médio mostrou-se satisfatório em relação ao valor do grupo C. No entanto, o valor médio do grupo T3 (16,6±10,5) foi o que demonstrou resultado mais satisfatório quando comparado aos demais grupos (P<0,05). A produção de embriões foi avaliada por meio da taxa de clivagem. Não houve diferença (P >0,05) entre os valores obtidos entre o grupo C (48,9 %) e os valores verificados nos grupos T1 (51,5 %), T2 (50 %), T3 (57,7 %), nem destes entre si. Este estudo permitiu concluir que a proteína específica do oviduto recombinante e a melatonina foram eficientes em melhorar a expansão dos CCOs. Além disso, as células tratadas com pOSP mostraram-se com menor quantidade de ROS, podendo a pOSP ser considerada um antioxidante proteico.(AU)

The present study used melatonin and recombinant oviduct specific protein (pOSP) in in vitro maturation medium (IVM). The expansion of the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), the intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and embryo development of the different groups were evaluated (C = control; T1 = melatonin; T2 = melatonin and pOSP and T3 = pOSP). Regarding the COCs expansion, the groups T1, T2 and T3 showed satisfactory results compared with group C (P<0.05), but there was no difference between treatments (P>0.05). In the ROS dosage, there was no difference between the mean values obtained in group C (26.4 ± 10.9) and group 1 (23.4 ± 7.8). However, in group 2 (21.3 ± 9.7), the average value was found to be satisfactory in relation group C. Despite that, the average value of treatment 3 (16.6 ± 10.5) was the most satisfactory result found compared to the other groups (P<0.05). The production of embryos was evaluated by cleavage rate, there was no difference between the values obtained in group C and the values recorded in groups T1 (51.5 %), T2 (50 %), T3 (57.7 %), and among them. This study showed that the pOSP and the melatonin were effective in the improvement of the expansion of COCs cells. In addition, the cells that were treated with pOSP presented a lower amount of ROS, allowing the pOSP to be considered a proteic antioxidant.(AU)

Adição da proteína específica do oviduto de porcas (pOSP) e da melatonina em meios de maturação e o efeito na clivagem in vitro de embriões suínos / Addition of the oviduct specific protein of porcine (pOSP) and melatonin in maturation media and their effect on the in vitro production of pig embryos

No presente estudo, utilizou-se a melatonina e a proteína específica do oviduto (pOSP) nos meios de maturação in vitro. Foram avaliadas a expansão do complexo cumulus-ovócito (CCOs), as concentrações intracelulares de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) e o desenvolvimento embrionário nos diferentes grupos (C = controle; T1 = somente com melatonina; T2 = com melatonina e pOSP e T3 somente com pOSP). No tocante à expansão do CCOs, houve diferença (P<0,05) dos valores obtidos no grupo C em relação aos valores médios dos grupos T1, T2 e T3, porém não houve diferença entre os valores obtidos nos tratamentos (P>0,05). Na dosagem de ROS, não houve diferença entre os valores médios obtidos no grupo C (26,4±10,9) e o valor verificado no grupo T1 (23,4±7,8), porém no grupo T2 (21,3±9,7) o valor médio mostrou-se satisfatório em relação ao valor do grupo C. No entanto, o valor médio do grupo T3 (16,6±10,5) foi o que demonstrou resultado mais satisfatório quando comparado aos demais grupos (P<0,05). A produção de embriões foi avaliada por meio da taxa de clivagem. Não houve diferença (P >0,05) entre os valores obtidos entre o grupo C (48,9 %) e os valores verificados nos grupos T1 (51,5 %), T2 (50 %), T3 (57,7 %), nem destes entre si. Este estudo permitiu concluir que a proteína específica do oviduto recombinante e a melatonina foram eficientes em melhorar a expansão dos CCOs. Além disso, as células tratadas com pOSP mostraram-se com menor quantidade de ROS, podendo a pOSP ser considerada um antioxidante proteico.(AU)

The present study used melatonin and recombinant oviduct specific protein (pOSP) in in vitro maturation medium (IVM). The expansion of the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), the intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and embryo development of the different groups were evaluated (C = control; T1 = melatonin; T2 = melatonin and pOSP and T3 = pOSP). Regarding the COCs expansion, the groups T1, T2 and T3 showed satisfactory results compared with group C (P<0.05), but there was no difference between treatments (P>0.05). In the ROS dosage, there was no difference between the mean values obtained in group C (26.4 ± 10.9) and group 1 (23.4 ± 7.8). However, in group 2 (21.3 ± 9.7), the average value was found to be satisfactory in relation group C. Despite that, the average value of treatment 3 (16.6 ± 10.5) was the most satisfactory result found compared to the other groups (P<0.05). The production of embryos was evaluated by cleavage rate, there was no difference between the values obtained in group C and the values recorded in groups T1 (51.5 %), T2 (50 %), T3 (57.7 %), and among them. This study showed that the pOSP and the melatonin were effective in the improvement of the expansion of COCs cells. In addition, the cells that were treated with pOSP presented a lower amount of ROS, allowing the pOSP to be considered a proteic antioxidant.(AU)

Cryopreservation of Piau-Breed Wild Boar Sperm: Assessment of Cooling Curves and Centrifugation Regimes.

This study aimed to assess the effects of different cooling curves and centrifugation regimes used in cryopreservation protocols on the post-thaw viability of Piau-breed wild boar (Sus scrofa) sperm using in vitro assessment tests. Two centrifugations (800 g for 10 min and 2400 g for 3 min) and two cooling curves (conventional cooling using nitrogen vapour - freezing 1 and automated cooling using a programmed freezing machine - freezing 2) were tested. Therefore, the treatments were divided into M3 - centrifugation at 2400 g for 3 min and freezing 2; M10 - centrifugation at 800 g for 10 min and freezing 2; R3 - centrifugation at 2400 g for 3 min and freezing 1; and R10 - centrifugation at 800 g for 10 min and freezing 1. No significant differences (p > 0.05) between treatments occurred post-thawing regarding the total sperm motility means recorded. The mean values of the different treatments were not different from each other regarding the supravital staining (SV), hypo-osmotic test (HO), sperm-egg binding assay or sperm morphology. This study showed that both the cooling curve and the centrifugation regime affected the quality of post-thaw sperm, and centrifugation for shorter times and cooling curves using automated cooling are the most suitable for minimizing sperm injury.

Assessment of different solutions and incubation times in the hypoosmotic swelling test of frozen/thawed semen in Piau boars

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of several solutions and incubation times in the hypoosmotic swelling test in predicting the in vitro quality of the frozen/thawed semen of Piau boars. Four samples of frozen semen from five different Piau boars were used. For the assessment of the hypoosmotic test, three incubation times were used (5, 30 and 60 min) in three different hypoosmotic solutions (BTS at 75 mOsm/Kg, sucrrose at 100 mOsm/Kg and fructose and sodium citrate at 100 mOsm/Kg), thus, samples were submitted to each hypoosmotic solution in three incubation times. The means of sperm motility spermatic vigor and live sperm by supravital staining for the assessed samples were respectively, 37.5 ± 7.2%, 2.8 ± 0.3 and 37.4 ± 7.8% in thawing and 15.5 ± 7.6%, 1.7 ± 0.5 and 22.6 ± 6.6% after 120 mm of thermoresistance test (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the mean values obtained for reactive sperm in the different incubation times and hypoosmotic solutions, and also no interaction between time ans solutions. The results obtained in the resent study demonstrated that quality of frozen/thawed semen, besides offering aliernatives for hypoosmotic solutions and different incubation times in performing the hypoosmotic test to predict the sperm plasmatic membrane quality in boats.

Assessment of different solutions and incubation times in the hypoosmotic swelling test of frozen/thawed semen in Piau boars

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of several solutions and incubation times in the hypoosmotic swelling test in predicting the in vitro quality of the frozen/thawed semen of Piau boars. Four samples of frozen semen from five different Piau boars were used. For the assessment of the hypoosmotic test, three incubation times were used (5, 30 and 60 min) in three different hypoosmotic solutions (BTS at 75 mOsm/Kg, sucrrose at 100 mOsm/Kg and fructose and sodium citrate at 100 mOsm/Kg), thus, samples were submitted to each hypoosmotic solution in three incubation times. The means of sperm motility spermatic vigor and live sperm by supravital staining for the assessed samples were respectively, 37.5 ± 7.2%, 2.8 ± 0.3 and 37.4 ± 7.8% in thawing and 15.5 ± 7.6%, 1.7 ± 0.5 and 22.6 ± 6.6% after 120 mm of thermoresistance test (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the mean values obtained for reactive sperm in the different incubation times and hypoosmotic solutions, and also no interaction between time ans solutions. The results obtained in the resent study demonstrated that quality of frozen/thawed semen, besides offering aliernatives for hypoosmotic solutions and different incubation times in performing the hypoosmotic test to predict the sperm plasmatic membrane quality in boats.(AU)

Teste de ligação de espermatozoides de suínos da raça Piau à membrana perivitelina da gema do ovo / Sperm-binding assay in Piau swine breeds to the hen’s egg perivitelline membrane

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização do teste de ligação de espermatozoides à membrana perivitelina da gema do ovo de galinha como uma alternativa de predizer a qualidade espermática pós-descongelamento em suínos da raça Piau. Foram utilizadas cinco partidas de sêmen congelado de um varrão, as quais foram subdivididas em quatro tratamentos, de acordo com o meio (BTS ou B-TALP) e as concentrações espermáticas utilizadas (20 ou 40 x 106 espermatozoides/mL). Além disso, utilizaram-se 25 partidas de sêmen congelado de cinco varrões (cinco partidas de cada animal), sendo que 10 μL de sêmen na concentração de 20 x 106 espermatozoides/mL foram incubados em meio BTS ou B-TALP. No experimento 1, o número médio de espermatozoides aderidos/mm2 variou de 157,0 ± 81,3 a 249,4 ± 119,3 (P > 0,05). No experimento 2, o número médio de espermatozoides ligados/mm2 foi de 339,3 ± 255,5 e 275,4 ± 164,0, respectivamente, para os meios BTS e B-TALP, sem diferença entre eles (P > 0,05). Concluiu-se que a concentração espermática, assim como os meios de incubação utilizados, não interferiu na capacidade de adesão de espermatozoides à membrana perivitelina da gema do ovo em animais da raça Piau.

The objective of this study was to verify the use of sperm-binding assay in Piau swine breeds to the hen’s egg perivitelline membrane as an alternative to predict semen post-thawing fertilizing capability. It were used five matches of frozen semen from a boar, and the matches divided into four treatments, according to media (BTS or B-TALP) or sperm concentration (20 or 40 x 106 sperm/ml). Moreover, Twenty five frozen semen samples were used from five males (five semen samples from each male), using 10 μL of sperm with the concentration of 20 x 106 spermatozoa/mL and incubated BTS or B-TALP. In experiment 1, the average number of sperm-binding/mm2 varied from 157.0 ± 81.3 to 249.4 ± 119.3 (P > 0.05). In experiment two, The average number of sperm-binding/mm2 was 339.3 ± 255.5 and 275.4 ± 164.0, respectively for BTS and B-TALP media, with no difference between themselves (P > 0.05). It was concluded that sperm concentration, as well as the incubation media used did not affect the sperm adhesion to hen’s egg perivitelline membrane in Piau breed animals.

Teste de ligação de espermatozoides de suínos da raça Piau à membrana perivitelina da gema do ovo / Sperm-binding assay in Piau swine breeds to the hens egg perivitelline membrane

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização do teste de ligação de espermatozoides à membrana perivitelina da gema do ovo de galinha como uma alternativa de predizer a qualidade espermática pós-descongelamento em suínos da raça Piau. Foram utilizadas cinco partidas de sêmen congelado de um varrão, as quais foram subdivididas em quatro tratamentos, de acordo com o meio (BTS ou B-TALP) e as concentrações espermáticas utilizadas (20 ou 40 x 106 espermatozoides/mL). Além disso, utilizaram-se 25 partidas de sêmen congelado de cinco varrões (cinco partidas de cada animal), sendo que 10 μL de sêmen na concentração de 20 x 106 espermatozoides/mL foram incubados em meio BTS ou B-TALP. No experimento 1, o número médio de espermatozoides aderidos/mm2 variou de 157,0 ± 81,3 a 249,4 ± 119,3 (P > 0,05). No experimento 2, o número médio de espermatozoides ligados/mm2 foi de 339,3 ± 255,5 e 275,4 ± 164,0, respectivamente, para os meios BTS e B-TALP, sem diferença entre eles (P > 0,05). Concluiu-se que a concentração espermática, assim como os meios de incubação utilizados, não interferiu na capacidade de adesão de espermatozoides à membrana perivitelina da gema do ovo em animais da raça Piau. (AU)

The objective of this study was to verify the use of sperm-binding assay in Piau swine breeds to the hens egg perivitelline membrane as an alternative to predict semen post-thawing fertilizing capability. It were used five matches of frozen semen from a boar, and the matches divided into four treatments, according to media (BTS or B-TALP) or sperm concentration (20 or 40 x 106 sperm/ml). Moreover, Twenty five frozen semen samples were used from five males (five semen samples from each male), using 10 μL of sperm with the concentration of 20 x 106 spermatozoa/mL and incubated BTS or B-TALP. In experiment 1, the average number of sperm-binding/mm2 varied from 157.0 ± 81.3 to 249.4 ± 119.3 (P > 0.05). In experiment two, The average number of sperm-binding/mm2 was 339.3 ± 255.5 and 275.4 ± 164.0, respectively for BTS and B-TALP media, with no difference between themselves (P > 0.05). It was concluded that sperm concentration, as well as the incubation media used did not affect the sperm adhesion to hens egg perivitelline membrane in Piau breed animals. (AU)