Effects of web-based adapted physical activity on hippocampal plasticity, cardiorespiratory fitness, symptoms, and cardiometabolic markers in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized, controlled study.

Among the lifestyle interventions, the physical activity (PA) has emerged as an adjuvant non-pharmacological treatment improving mental and physical health in patients with schizophrenia (SZPs) and increasing the hippocampus (HCP) volume. Previously investigated PA programs have been face-to-face, and not necessary adapted to patients' physiological fitness. We propose an innovative 16-week adapted PA program delivered by real-time videoconferencing (e-APA), allowing SZPs to interact with a coach and to manage their physical condition. The primary goal was to demonstrate a greater increase of total HCP volumes in SZPs receiving e-APA compared to that observed in a controlled group. The secondary objectives were to demonstrate the greater effects of e-APA compared to a controlled group on HCP subfields, cardiorespiratory fitness, clinical symptoms, cognitive functions, and lipidic profile. Thirty-five SZPs were randomized to either e-APA or a controlled group receiving a health education program under the same conditions (e-HE). Variables were assessed at pre- and post-intervention time-points. The dropout rate was 11.4%. Compared to the e-HE group, the e-APA group did not have any effect on the HCP total volumes but increased the left subiculum volume. Also, the e-APA group significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), improved lipidic profile and negative symptoms but not cognitive functions. This study demonstrated the high feasibility and multiple benefits of a remote e-APA program for SZPs. e-APA may increase brain plasticity and improve health outcomes in SZPs, supporting that PA should be an add-on therapeutic intervention. ClinicalTrial.gov on 25 august 2017 (NCT03261817).

A (Sub)field Guide to Quality Control in Hippocampal Subfield Segmentation on Highresolution T2-weighted MRI.

Inquiries into properties of brain structure and function have progressed due to developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To sustain progress in investigating and quantifying neuroanatomical details in vivo, the reliability and validity of brain measurements are paramount. Quality control (QC) is a set of procedures for mitigating errors and ensuring the validity and reliability of brain measurements. Despite its importance, there is little guidance on best QC practices and reporting procedures. The study of hippocampal subfields in vivo is a critical case for QC because of their small size, inter-dependent boundary definitions, and common artifacts in the MRI data used for subfield measurements. We addressed this gap by surveying the broader scientific community studying hippocampal subfields on their views and approaches to QC. We received responses from 37 investigators spanning 10 countries, covering different career stages, and studying both healthy and pathological development and aging. In this sample, 81% of researchers considered QC to be very important or important, and 19% viewed it as fairly important. Despite this, only 46% of researchers reported on their QC processes in prior publications. In many instances, lack of reporting appeared due to ambiguous guidance on relevant details and guidance for reporting, rather than absence of QC. Here, we provide recommendations for correcting errors to maximize reliability and minimize bias. We also summarize threats to segmentation accuracy, review common QC methods, and make recommendations for best practices and reporting in publications. Implementing the recommended QC practices will collectively improve inferences to the larger population, as well as have implications for clinical practice and public health.

Source apportionment and ozone formation mechanism of VOCs considering photochemical loss in Guangzhou, China.

Understanding the sources and impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on ozone formation is challenging when the traditional method does not account for their photochemical loss. In this study, online monitoring of 56 VOCs was carried out in summer and autumn during high ozone pollution episodes. The photochemical age method was used to evaluate the atmospheric chemical loss of VOCs and to analyze the effects on characteristics, sources, and ozone formation of VOC components. The initial concentrations during daytime were 5.12 ppbv and 4.49 ppbv higher than the observed concentrations in the summer and autumn, respectively. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified 5 major emission sources. However, the omission of the chemical loss of VOCs led to underestimating the contributions of sources associated with highly reactive VOC components, such as those produced by biogenic emissions and solvent usage. Conversely it resulted in overestimating the contributions from VOC components with lower chemical activity such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) usage, vehicle emissions, and gasoline evaporation. Furthermore, the estimation of ozone formation may be underestimated when the atmospheric photochemical loss is not taken into account. The ozone formation potential (OFP) method and propylene-equivalent concentration method both underestimated ozone formation by 53.24 ppbv and 47.25 ppbc, respectively, in the summer, and by 40.34 ppbv and 26.37 ppbc, respectively, in the autumn. The determination of the ozone formation regime based on VOC chemical loss was more acceptable. In the summer, the ozone formation regime changed from the VOC-limited regime to the VOC-NOx transition regime, while in the autumn, the ozone formation regime changed from the strong VOC-limited regime to the weak VOC-limited regime. To obtain more thorough and precise conclusions, further monitoring and analysis studies will be conducted in the near future on a wider variety of VOC species such as oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs).

Mandibular Dysmorphology and Clinical Presentation in Treacher Collins Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Treacher Collins syndrome is a rare congenital disease characterized by the multiple craniofacial malformations. Although the deformities affecting patients with Treacher Collins syndrome have been well characterized, the effects of these malformations to clinical severity of the syndrome are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of specific Treacher Collins mandibular malformations with clinical severity. DESIGN: A retrospective radiographic observational study. SETTING: Study conducted at a single institution, a quaternary craniofacial care center. PATIENTS: 54 patients with Treacher Collins syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Computed tomography (CT), clinical photographs and medical history were included in this analysis. Mandibles were isolated from CT data and reconstructed in three dimensions using Mimics software. Cephalometric measurements were performed on CT data. Clinical severity was determined by Teber and Vincent scores. Association of craniofacial dysmorphology to clinical severity was determined by Spearman rank coefficient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main results obtained were the measurements of the mandibles and the quantification of the malformations of the evaluated patients. RESULTS: Among the most frequent findings in the sample are hypoplasia of the zygomatic complex, descending palpebral cleft and mandibular hypoplasia. Patients with a lower ramus/corpus ratio had a higher (more severe) Teber and Vincent classification. CONCLUSION: Patients with the most compromised mandible are also the patients with the highest number of malformations, thus, the most severe patients.

Perineural invasion predicts poor survival and cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) usually invades peripheral nerves through a process known as perineural invasion (PNI), recognized as an adverse factor considered for the administration of postoperative adjuvant therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of PNI on survival and cervical lymph node metastasis in a cohort of OSCC patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Presence, location and extension of PNI were assessed in a cohort of 57 paraffin-embedded OSCC resections. Clinico-pathological variables were obtained from each case. Five-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) curves were constructed according to the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the role of PNI as an independent risk factor related to poor survival, and a binary logistic regression was performed to estimate the predictive value of PNI for regional lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: PNI was observed in 49.1% of the cases, affecting only small nerves. Peritumoral PNI was the most common location, and multifocal PNI the most frequent extent. Most PNI positive cases had cervical metastasis (p=0.001), and PNI was more frequent in stages III-IV than in I-II (p=0.02). The five-year OS and the 5-year DSS decreased in PNI positive and peritumoral PNI cases. PNI was an independent risk factor for poor 5-year OS and poor 5-year DSS. The odds for cervical lymph node metastasis were of 6.076 (p=0.006) and 10.257 (p=0.007) for PNI and Tumor budding (TB) positive cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PNI is a frequent finding in OSCC and an independent risk factor for poor OS and DSS. PNI and TB are both risk factors associated to an increased likelihood for the development of lymph node metastasis. Therefore, we suggest further investigations to test the combined PNI-TB scoring system in risk stratification models for OSCC.

Pentoxifylline and tocopherol for the treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws (ORNJ) is a severe and challenging complication of head and neck radiation therapy. Despite its aggressiveness and controversy respect to its efficacy, surgical intervention remains the main treatment modality. Nevertheless, due to advances in the understanding of ORNJ physiopathology, new treatment alternatives such as the combination of pentoxifylline with tocopherol (PENTO) have emerged. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the reported efficacy of PENTO for the treatment of ORNJ.  Material and Methods: Studies were search using Pubmed, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science data bases following the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were cohort, case series, randomized or non-randomized clinical studies published in English including human subjects who received PENTO as treatment for ORN of the jaws.  Results: Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria and were included for data analysis. All studies reported patients with complete mucosal coverage with no exposed bone (considered healthy) after PENTO treatment, ranging from 16.6% to 100% of the patients, depending on the study. Clinical improvement or disease stabilization was reported between 7.6% and 66.6% of studied individuals, while disease progression was seen in only 5 studies involving 7.6 - 32% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: PENTO treatment achieved a complete disease control in a significant number of patients in all studies. However, there is no standardized protocol for administering the therapy. It is necessary to determine the pharmacological doses and to evaluate the benefits of adding antibiotics and clodronate. Good quality clinical trials are needed to develop a successful algorithm for the management of ORN of the jaws.

On the use on hydroxyapatite suspensions for the separation of milk fat globule membrane components from buttermilk.

The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which surrounds and stabilizes the fat globules, is released in buttermilk during cream churning. MFGM has many health benefits due to its composition rich in phospholipids and membrane proteins. Many techniques have been tried to separate the MFGM from the remaining milk solids non-fat, but they are challenging to carry out at an industrial scale. This research proposes a new approach to separating MFGM from buttermilk. This paper assessed the efficacy of hydroxyapatite (HA) cristal in interacting with MFGM isolates obtained from either raw or pasteurized cream. Different HA to MFGM ratios were used (10:1 and 20:1) to determine the impact of HA concentration on the adsorption. The results showed a very high affinity of the MFGM for HA and suggested the potential for its separation from buttermilk to improve its valorization.

Evaluation of stress response in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in arid regions from colonies in Chihuahua Mexico.

Among all the regulatory homeostatic networks in vertebrates, the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis during the stress response, has gained considerable attention, and the measurement of fecal glucocorticoids (FGC) has become an invaluable tool to assess adrenocortical activity related to stressful events in wild and captive animals. However, the use of FGC requires the validation of measurement techniques and the proper selection of the specific hormone according to the study species. The main objective of this study was to identify the dominant glucocorticoid (GC) hormone in the stress response of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in an arid grassland of Chihuahua, Mexico. A capture stress challenge in the field was developed to determine if the levels of glucocorticoids (cortisol and corticosterone) both in serum and fecal samples could be attributed to stress in Cynomys ludovicianus. The samples were analysed with the technique of liquid phase radioimmunoassay , and this study showed that both cortisol and corticosterone are present at measurable levels in serum and fecal samples of black-tailed prairie dogs. We found that both GCs were present in similar concentrations in serum, however, corticosterone concentration in fecal samples was higher than cortisol. Likewise, biochemical validations performed in this study to test the assay reached acceptable levels of reliability. Therefore, we confirm that fecal analysis can be implemented as a method to measure stress responses in wild prairie dogs.

Miastenia gravis y embarazo: impacto y abordaje / Myasthenia gravis and pregnancy: impact and approach

Introducción: La miastenia gravis (MG) se caracteriza por debilidad del músculo esquelético, que es la presentación inicial más común, debilidad ocular con ptosis asimétrica y diplopía binocular. Alrededor del 19-50% de las gestantes con MG experimentará un empeoramiento de la enfermedad. El objetivo de este artículo fue revisar la información actual respecto a la interrelación entre la MG y el embarazo, así como su abordaje. Desarrollo: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en bases de datos como PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Google Scholar y medRxiv. Se incluyeron artículos originales, de revisión, series e informes de casos comprendidos entre 2013 y 2022. Conclusiones: La MG no afectaría significativamente al embarazo; sin embargo, el embarazo puede exacerbar la enfermedad, principalmente durante el primer trimestre o después del parto. El abordaje de la gestante con MG debe ser multidisciplinario e implica el ajuste del tratamiento farmacológico y un seguimiento constante.(AU)

Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is characterized by skeletal muscle weakness, the most common initial presentation includes ocular weakness with asymmetric ptosis and binocular diplopia. Around 19-50% of pregnant women with myasthenia gravis will experience a worsening of the disease. The objective of this article was to review the current information regarding the interrelation between MG and pregnancy; as well as its approach. Development: Bibliographic search in databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Google Scholar and medRxiv. Original articles, reviews, series and case reports between 2013 and 2022 are included. Conclusions: Myasthenia gravis would not significantly effects on pregnancy; however, pregnancy can exacerbate the disease, especially during the first trimester or after delivery. The approach to pregnant women with myasthenia gravis must be multidisciplinary and involves the adjustment of pharmacological treatment and constant monitoring.(AU)

[Myasthenia gravis and pregnancy: impact and approach]. / Miastenia gravis y embarazo: impacto y abordaje.

INTRODUCTION: Myasthenia gravis is characterized by skeletal muscle weakness, the most common initial presentation includes ocular weakness with asymmetric ptosis and binocular diplopia. Around 19-50% of pregnant women with myasthenia gravis will experience a worsening of the disease. The objective of this article was to review the current information regarding the interrelation between MG and pregnancy; as well as its approach. DEVELOPMENT: Bibliographic search in databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Google Scholar and medRxiv. Original articles, reviews, series and case reports between 2013 and 2022 are included. CONCLUSIONS: Myasthenia gravis would not significantly effects on pregnancy; however, pregnancy can exacerbate the disease, especially during the first trimester or after delivery. The approach to pregnant women with myasthenia gravis must be multidisciplinary and involves the adjustment of pharmacological treatment and constant monitoring.

TITLE: Miastenia gravis y embarazo: impacto y abordaje.Introducción. La miastenia gravis (MG) se caracteriza por debilidad del músculo esquelético, que es la presentación inicial más común, debilidad ocular con ptosis asimétrica y diplopía binocular. Alrededor del 19-50% de las gestantes con MG experimentará un empeoramiento de la enfermedad. El objetivo de este artículo fue revisar la información actual respecto a la interrelación entre la MG y el embarazo, así como su abordaje. Desarrollo. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en bases de datos como PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Google Scholar y medRxiv. Se incluyeron artículos originales, de revisión, series e informes de casos comprendidos entre 2013 y 2022. Conclusiones. La MG no afectaría significativamente al embarazo; sin embargo, el embarazo puede exacerbar la enfermedad, principalmente durante el primer trimestre o después del parto. El abordaje de la gestante con MG debe ser multidisciplinario e implica el ajuste del tratamiento farmacológico y un seguimiento constante.

Functional properties of cream from dairy cows with experimentally altered milk fat composition.

Modification of milk fat composition might be a desirable method to alter manufacturing characteristics or produce dairy products low in saturated fat that more closely meet consumer dietary preferences. The aim of this research was to evaluate functional properties of cream obtained from milks with fat composition modified by altering the profile of long-chain fatty acids (FA) absorbed from the intestine. A control and 5 mixtures of long-chain free FA were infused into the abomasum of lactating dairy cows in a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments were as follows: (1) control (no FA infused), (2) mostly saturated FA (C16:C18 = 0.74), (3) low linoleic palm FA (C16:C18 = 0.73), (4) palm FA (C16:C18 = 0.73), (5) soy FA (C16:C18 = 0.10), and (6) high palmitic soy FA (C16:C18 = 0.73). All treatments included meat solubles and Tween 80 as emulsifiers. Viscosity, overrun, whipping time, foam firmness, and foam stability were evaluated in creams (33% fat). Cream from cows infused with soy FA (treatment 5) had the longest whipping time and lowest overrun, foam stability, viscosity, melting point, firmness, and solid fat content at 5 and 20°C because the fat had the highest unsaturated FA content. Increasing palmitic acid content of soy FA (treatment 6) improved functional variables in cream relative to soy FA alone. Differences among treatments 1 to 4 were less pronounced because of the effect of C18:1 trans in treatments 3 and 4 on milk fat yield and composition. Milk fat from cows infused with palm FA (treatment 4) exhibited comparable or better functionality than control cream. Increased polyunsaturated FA in milk fat resulted in increased amounts of triglyceride (TG) fractions with 28, 30, 38, and 40 carbon numbers, increased oleic acid resulted in increased 50-carbon TG, and higher palmitic and myristic acids resulted in greater 44, 46, and 48 carbon number TG. These TG groups consistently correlated with functional properties of creams from different treatments. Our results indicated that optimal functionality of cream is dependent more on its content of palmitic acid than on unsaturated FA. However, an optimal composition of milk fat for cream functional characteristics might be obtained through nutritional manipulation of diets for dairy cows to deliver an optimal profile of FA.

Dietary fiber and the microbiota: A narrative review by a group of experts from the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología.

Dietary fiber intake is one of the most influential and efficacious strategies for modulating the gut microbiota. Said fiber can be digested by the microbiota itself, producing numerous metabolites, which include the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs have local and systemic functions that impact the composition and function of the gut microbiota, and consequently, human health. The aim of the present narrative review was to provide a document that serves as a frame of reference for a clear understanding of dietary fiber and its direct and indirect effects on health. The direct benefits of dietary fiber intake can be dependent on or independent of the gut microbiota. The use of dietary fiber by the gut microbiota involves several factors, including the fiber's physiochemical characteristics. Dietary fiber type influences the gut microbiota because not all bacterial species have the same capacity to produce the enzymes needed for its degradation. A low-fiber diet can affect the balance of the SCFAs produced. Dietary fiber indirectly benefits cardiometabolic health, digestive health, certain functional gastrointestinal disorders, and different diseases.

Pathological drivers of neurodegeneration in suspected non-Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the heterogeneous etiology of suspected non-Alzheimer's pathophysiology (SNAP), a group of subjects with neurodegeneration in the absence of ß-amyloid. Using antemortem MRI and pathological data, we investigated the etiology of SNAP and the association of neurodegenerative pathologies with structural medial temporal lobe (MTL) measures in ß-amyloid-negative subjects. METHODS: Subjects with antemortem MRI and autopsy data were selected from ADNI (n=63) and the University of Pennsylvania (n=156). Pathological diagnoses and semi-quantitative scores of MTL tau, neuritic plaques, α-synuclein, and TDP-43 pathology and MTL structural MRI measures from antemortem T1-weighted MRI scans were obtained. ß-amyloid status (A+/A-) was determined by CERAD score and neurodegeneration status (N+/N-) by hippocampal volume. RESULTS: SNAP reflects a heterogeneous group of pathological diagnoses. In ADNI, SNAP (A-N+) had significantly more neuropathological diagnoses than A+N+. In the A- group, tau pathology was associated with hippocampal, entorhinal cortex, and Brodmann area 35 volume/thickness and TDP-43 pathology with hippocampal volume. CONCLUSION: SNAP had a heterogeneous profile with more mixed pathologies than A+N+. Moreover, a role for TDP-43 and tau pathology in driving MTL neurodegeneration in the absence of ß-amyloid was supported.

Whey protein addition and its increased light absorption and tinctorial strength of model solutions colored with anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins (ACN) are pigments with vivid colors, but their application as food colorants is restricted by their limited stability and color expression. Anthocyanins exhibit higher stability in dairy systems than in buffers at similar pH, suggesting that pigments may be able to interact with dairy components such as proteins, resulting in improved performance as colorants. Our objective was to determine the type of interaction between whey proteins (WP) and ACN leading to color enhancements and to determine the role of the ACN chemical structure in this interaction. Model solutions colored with semipurified pigments from sources with different ACN profiles (Berberis boliviana, grape skin, purple corn, black carrot, and red cabbage) were mixed with different concentrations of whey protein isolate (WPI) in pH 3 buffer. Absorption spectra of these solutions were acquired using an absorbance microplate reader, and color parameters were calculated from spectral data. Isolated ACN 3-glucosides were used to determine the role of the aglycone structure in the WP-ACN interaction using visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. In silico modeling was used to visualize potential differences in the interaction between ß-lactoglobulin and ACN. Addition of WPI resulted in hyperchromic shifts at the wavelength of maximum absorption in the visible range (λvis-max) of up to 19%, and a significant increase in tinctorial strength for all ACN sources (ΔE > 5). Moreover, ACN acylation did not seem to play a significant role in the WP-ACN interaction. When using isolated ACN, WPI addition resulted in hyperchromic shifts at the λvis-max only for methoxylated ACN such as petunidin-3-glucoside (up to 24%), and malvidin-3-glucoside (up to 97%). The bimolecular quenching constant values (Kq > 1010M-1s-1) strongly suggested that the predominant type of quenching interaction was static. Analysis of enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy showed that this binding was spontaneous; depending on the chemical structure of the ACN, the predominant binding forces could be hydrophobic interactions or hydrogen bonding. Modeling suggested that methoxylations in the B ring of the aglycon structure promoted interactions with electron acceptor amino acids. Overall, WP could be used to enhance the tinctorial strength of select ACN depending on their structural characteristics. Therefore, ACN source selection may play a key role for specific applications in dairy products.

Association of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in brain and tumor with increased tumor growth in sympathectomized mice.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphocytes express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. This suggests a broader role for cathecholamines in lymphocyte function, as well as the potential secretion of catecholamines by tumors of lymphoid origin. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of Th by murine lymphoma cells in an in vivo mouse model. For this, L5178Y-R lymphoma cells were implanted in nerve-intact and sympathectomized male BALB/c mice. Relative Th gene expression in tumor and brain was determined by quantitative PCR. Body composition, tumor volume, and plasma TH1/TH2/TH17 cytokines were also evaluated as markers of tumor-host condition and anti-tumor immune response in absence of adrenergic innervation. RESULTS: We found a significant (p = 0.045) 3.3-fold decrease of Th gene expression in tumor and a non-significant (p = 0.60) 6.9-fold increase in brain after sympathectomy. Sympathectomized mice also showed a significant increase in tumor mass at days 18 (p = 0.032) and 28 (p = 0.022) and increased interscapular fat (p = 0.04). TH1/TH2 and TH17 cytokines levels in plasma from sympathectomized tumor-bearing mice were not different from control mice. CONCLUSION: The L5178Y-R lymphoma does not express Th during in vivo progression.

Endocrine, prostatic vascular, and proapoptotic changes in dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia treated medically or surgically.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disorder related to hormone imbalance, local angiogenesis, and prostate growth, which can be treated surgically (orchiectomy) or medically (most commonly with finasteride). However, finasteride therapy is not completely established in dogs regarding local action and posology. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of finasteride and orchiectomy on hormonal profile, prostate apoptosis, blood flow, and biometry in dogs with BPH. Dogs were assigned to the following groups: untreated, 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, and 0.5 mg/kg/d of finasteride and orchiectomy. All dogs were assessed monthly: day 0 (before treatment), day 30, and day 60 and subjected to prostate B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography and hormonal analysis (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone). After 60 d, prostatic biopsy was performed for histology and immunohistochemical evaluation for apoptosis (caspase-3). On day 60, percentage reduction of prostatic volume was greater in orchiectomized dogs than that in finasteride groups, which, conversely, was greater than untreated dogs. On day 60, 0.2-mg finasteride, 0.5-mg finasteride, and orchiectomy groups had higher prostatic blood flow than 0.1-mg finasteride and untreated groups. In addition, both 0.5-mg finasteride and orchiectomy groups had an increase in prostate artery resistance. Orchiectomy significantly decreased androgen concentrations at 30 d onward, differing from the remaining groups. The orchiectomy group had lower caspase-3 immunostaining, however, not different from untreated and 0.5-mg finasteride. In conclusion, 0.5 mg/kg finasteride promoted more effective prostate apoptosis and hemodynamic effects among medical treatments, whereas orchiectomy caused prostate atrophy and sharp endocrine changes in dogs with BPH.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by retroviral transduction of skin fibroblasts from four patients suffering Williams-Beuren syndrome (7q11.23 deletion).

Skin fibroblasts were obtained from four patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) carrying the typical 1.5 Mb or 1.8 Mb deletion at the 7q11.23 genomic region. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated by retroviral infection of fibroblasts with polycystronic vectors. The generated iPSC clones ESi059A, ESi060B and ESi068A had the 1.5 Mb deletion of 7q11.23 and ESi069A the 1.8 Mb, with no novel additional genomic alterations, stable karyotype, expressed pluripotency markers and could differentiate towards the three germ layers in vitro via embryoid body formation and in vivo by teratoma formation. WBS patient's lines are a valuable resource for in vitro modelling of WBS.

Derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by retroviral transduction of skin fibroblasts from four patients suffering 7q11.23 microduplication syndrome.

Skin fibroblasts were obtained from four patients with 7q11.23 microduplication syndrome carrying the reciprocal rearrangement of Williams-Beuren syndrome at the 7q11.23 genomic region. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated by retroviral infection of fibroblasts with polycystronic vectors. The generated iPSC clones ESi058B, ESi057B, ESi070A and ESi071A had the 7q11.23 duplication with no additional genomic alterations, a stable karyotype, expressed pluripotency markers and could differentiate towards the three germ layers in vitro via embryoid body formation and in vivo by teratoma formation. Patient's derived iPSCs are a valuable resource for in vitro modeling of 7q11.23 microduplication syndrome. Resource Table.

Cellular Identification and In Silico Characterization of Protein Phosphatase 2C (PP2C) of Cryptosporidium parvum.

PURPOSE: Cryptosporidium parvum is an Apicomplexa parasite that causes watery diarrhea (cryptosporidiosis), especially in children and immunocompromised adults (the latter in a very severe form). No effective treatment exists against infection by this parasite. Phosphatases participate in the regulation of various cellular functions and are thus considered potential therapeutic targets in many diseases. The aim of the present study was to indirectly identify and in silico characterize a protein phosphatase 2C of C. parvum. METHODS: Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy were performed with a polyclonal antibody against Leishmania major PP2C. Possible cross-reactivity with LmPP2C was assessed by in silico sequence homology to analyze phylogenetic relationships between distinct C. parvum PP2Cs. In addition, another bioinformatics approach was used to predict the possible relationship and function of C. parvum PP2C in the regulation of several cellular processes. RESULTS: Western blotting showed a protein of approximately 72 kDa. With immunofluorescence, PP2C was localized in the nucleus of oocysts (with some additional labeling in the cytoplasm) and at the apical region of sporozoites. By aligning C. parvum PP2C with known ortholog sequences and carrying out PPI analysis, a determination could be made of the degree of conservation of these enzymes, their possible relationship, and their function in the regulation of several cellular processes associated with a likely nuclear location. CONCLUSION: Microscopic localization by immunofluorescence identified CpPP2C at the nucleus in oocysts and at the apical end of the sporozoite body. Hence, this enzyme could be associated with proteins that have an important role in the regulation of transcription and other processes orchestrated by MAPK kinases, according to in silico analysis.