The epidemiology of canine ear diseases in Northwest China: Analysis of data on 221 dogs from 2012 to 2016.

Background and Aim: Ear disease is relatively important in veterinary medicine as it significantly affects the quality of life of pets. Two hundred and twenty-one cases of canine ear diseases were collected and collated at the Xi'an Teaching Hospital of Northwest A&F University from 2012 to 2016. An epidemiological analysis was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and causes of various ear diseases in various breeds of dogs in Xi'an. Materials and Methods: Data were collected and statistically analyzed by reviewing previous cases and obtaining medical history data and laboratory results. This study included the following experiments: systematic examination of the animals' skin, auricular skin scraping test, ear canal endoscopy, and examination of ear canal secretion. Results: The top three dog breeds most commonly afflicted with ear diseases in Xi'an were Toy poodles, Cocker Spaniels, and Golden Retrievers, accounting for 18.5%, 10.4%, and 9.5% of the total cases, respectively. The prevalence was the highest in August and September, with male dogs having a higher prevalence rate than female dogs. Common ear diseases were categorized as otitis externa, otitis media, otitis interna, or ear hematoma. Conclusion: This study determined the prevalence of external otitis, ear hematoma, otitis media, and inner otitis in dogs in the Xi'an area. These results can help expand the current understanding of the development and epidemiology of canine ear diseases and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Mineral composition and production of guava under salt stress and salicylic acid.

The limitation in the quality of water sources for irrigation in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil is increasingly present, so it is necessary to use water with high concentrations of salts for agricultural production, which makes the use of elicitors essential to mitigate the harmful effects of salinity on plants. Given the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of salicylic acid on the mineral composition and production of guava plants under salt stress conditions in the post-grafting phase. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions, in a randomized block design, in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme, with two levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (0.6 and 3.2 dS m-1) and four concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 mM), with three replicates. During the flowering stage of guava, N, P, and K contents accumulated in the leaves according to the following order of concentration: N > K > P. Foliar application of 1.2 mM of salicylic acid increases the leaf contents of N, P, and K in guava plants grown under irrigation with water of 0.6 dS m-1. Water salinity of 3.2 dS m-1 reduces the growth and production components of guava plants.

Morphophysiology and production of bell pepper grown under salt stress and salicylic acid foliar application.

Considering the relevance of bell pepper and the limitations imposed by the deleterious effects of salt stress, especially in semi-arid regions, it is extremely important to establish strategies that can facilitate the use of saline water in vegetable production. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the frequency of foliar application of salicylic acid on the morphophysiology and production of the bell pepper cv. "All Big" irrigated with saline water. The study was conducted at a greenhouse in Campina Grande - PB. The treatments were distributed in a completely randomized design and set up in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement with three replications, corresponding to four application frequencies of salicylic acid (F1- No application of salicylic acid, F2 - Weekly application, F3- fortnightly application, and F4- monthly application) and four levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw (0.8, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.2 dS m-1). The fortnightly application of salicylic acid at a concentration of 1.0 mM mitigated the effects of salt stress on the morphophysiology and production components of bell pepper cv. All Big cultivated with ECw of up to 2.4 dS m-1, which reinforces the hypothesis that salicylic acid can act as a signaling molecule and reduce the effects of saline stress in bell pepper, enabling the use of brackish water in agricultural activity, mainly in semi-arid regions of northeastern Brazil, which have a shortage of fresh water.

Hydrogen peroxide in attenuation of salt stress effects on physiological indicators and growth of soursop.

To mitigate the deleterious effects of salt stress, substances capable of acting as mitigators and/or inducers of tolerance to stress have been used, enabling the use of saline waters and contributing to the development of irrigated agriculture. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying with hydrogen peroxide as an attenuator of salt stress effects on soursop morphophysiology. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in Campina Grande - PB, Brazil, using a randomized block design, in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement, whose treatments resulted from the combination of four levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw (0.8 - control, 1.6, 2.4, and 3.2 dS m-1) and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 (0, 10, 20, and 30 µM), with three replicates. Foliar application of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 10 µM increased growth, chlorophyll synthesis, and relative water content in the leaves and consequently reduced the foliar water saturation deficit of soursop irrigated with ECw up to 1.6 dS m-1. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide of 30 µM intensified the salt stress on the electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade and the photosynthetic pigments of soursop, 270 days after transplanting.

Designing a couple-based relationship strengthening and health enhancing intervention for pregnant women living with HIV and their male partners in Zambia: Interview findings from the target community.

INTRODUCTION: Interpersonal support can promote positive outcomes among people living with HIV. In order to develop an acceptable psychoeducational couples-based intervention aimed at strengthening the relationship context and improving HIV outcomes before and after pregnancy, we conducted qualitative interviews with pregnant women living with HIV and their male partners. METHODS: We interviewed a convenience clinic-based sample of pregnant women living with HIV (n = 30) and male partners (n = 18) in Lusaka, Zambia. Interviews included pile sorting relationship topics in order of perceived priority. Interviews also focused on family health concerns. Interviews were audio-recorded, translated, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Pile sorting data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: All female participants were living with HIV; 61% of the male partners interviewed were additionally living with HIV. The most prioritized relationship topic among both genders was communication between couples. Honesty and respect were important relationship topics but prioritized differently based on gender. Female participants considered emotional and instrumental support from male partners critical for their physical and mental health; men did not prioritize support. Intimate partner violence was discussed often by both genders. Family health priorities included good nutrition during pregnancy, preventing infant HIV infection, safe infant feeding, sexual health, and men's alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: A major contribution of this study is a better understanding of the dyad-level factors pregnant women living with HIV and their male partners perceive to be the most important for a healthy, well-functioning relationship. This study additionally identified gaps in antenatal health education and the specific family health issues most prioritized by pregnant women living with HIV and their male partners. The findings of this study will inform the development of an acceptable couples-based intervention with greater likelihood of efficacy in strengthening the relationship context and promoting family health during and after pregnancies that are affected by HIV.

Nox4-mediated ROS production is involved, but not essential for TGFß-induced lens EMT leading to cataract.

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing enzyme, NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4), is upregulated in response to TGFß in lens epithelial cells in vitro, and its selective inhibition was shown to block aspects of TGFß-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the present in situ study we validate the role(s) of Nox4 in TGFß-induced lens EMT leading to anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC) formation. Mice overexpressing TGFß in the lens, that develop ASC, were crossed to Nox4-deficient mice. When comparing mice overexpressing TGFß in lens, to mice that were also deficient for Nox4, we see the delayed onset of cataract, along with a delay in EMT protein markers normally associated with TGFß-induced fibrotic cataracts. In the absence of Nox4, we also see elevated levels of ERK1/2 activity that was shown to be required for TGFß/Smad2/3-signaling. qRT-PCR revealed upregulation of Nox2 and its regulatory subunit in TGFß-overexpressing lens epithelial cells devoid of Nox4. Taken together, these findings provide an improved platform to delineate putative Nox4 (and ROS) interactions with Smad2/3 and/or ERK1/2, in particular in the development of fibrotic diseases, such as specific forms of cataract.

Postpartum follow up of gestational diabetes in a Tertiary Care Center.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes is a risk factor for future development of type 2 diabetes. The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of postpartum glucose tolerance status evaluation in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes 6-12 weeks after delivery. The secondary one was to identify the factors that are implicated with postpartum glucose retesting. METHODS: This was a retrospective study performed with a cohort of women with gestational diabetes, with prenatal care and delivery at a tertiary care center, from January 2013 to April 2017. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes was based on IADPSG criteria (Fasting ≥ 92 mg/dl, 1 h ≥ 180 mg/dl and/or 2 h ≥ 153 mg/dl, respectively) and the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes were made using the 2016 ADA's criteria (fasting and 2 h after glucose load ≥ 126 mg/dl and/or ≥ 200 and 100-125 mg/dl and/or 140 and 199 mg/dl, respectively). All women had an appointment scheduled 6-12 weeks postpartum with the results of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). RESULTS: Of the 152 evaluated women, 21 (13.8%) returned with the postpartum OGTT results. Of these, 9 (45.0%) had a diagnosis of prediabetes. The use of insulin during gestation was the only factor implicated in a higher adherence rate to postpartum testing OR 6.33 (p 0.002). No significance was found for other demographic and clinical variables (age, family income, years of study, parity, gestational age at first visit, smoking, family history of type 2 diabetes, diagnosis of gestational diabetes before the third trimester, pregestational body mass index, previous history of gestational diabetes and ethnicity). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with gestational diabetes did not return postpartum to perform OGTT and in our study the only factor implicated in a higher postpartum return was the use of insulin during pregnancy. Considering that 45.0% were diagnosed with prediabetes, diabetes care teams should initially identify non-adherent patients.

Silica encapsulation by miniemulsion polymerization: distribution and localization of the silica particles in droplets and latex particles.

The impact of including hydrophobically modified silica on the morphology of miniemulsified monomer mixtures and that of the resulting polymer particles was investigated, with emphasis placed on the distribution and localization of the inorganic phase. Silica nanoparticles with diameters of 20 and 78 nm were first modified with γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (γ-MPS) to favor their dispersion in methyl methacrylate (MMA)/n-butyl acrylate (BuA) and mixtures of varying MMA to BuA weight ratios. The monomer-silica dispersions were then emulsified by ultrasonication, and the resulting silica-loaded droplets were examined using cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). This represents the first time such silica-loaded nanodroplets were examined in this way. The results of the cryo-TEM show that whereas the silica particles could easily be dispersed in MMA or a mixture of MMA and BuA to produce stable dispersions, the emulsification step promotes the (re)localization of the silica at the oil-water interfaces. It was also shown that not all droplets are equal; some droplets and particles contain no silica whereas others contain many silica particles. After the subsequent polymerization step, the silica was buried inside the latex particles.

Comparação entre dois protocolos para obtenção de plasma rico em plaquetas, em cães / Comparison between two protocols to obtain platelet-rich plasma in dogs

Avaliaram-se dois protocolos para a produção de plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP) com o sangue de 20 cães adultos. Foram coletados três frascos de sangue em que um deles foi usado para produção do PRP por meio do protocolo A - centrifugação única a 1200rpm/10min -, o outro para fabricação do PRP pelo protocolo B - primeira centrifugação a 1200rpm/10min e a segunda centrifugação a 1600rpm/10min - e o terceiro para realização da contagem plaquetária no sangue total, que serviu de parâmetro para os valores alcançados no PRP. O protocolo no qual foi possível alcançar maior concentração plaquetária foi testado em outros 20 cães para avaliar sua reprodutibilidade. Constatou-se que o protocolo B resultou em maior plaquetometria em 100 por cento das amostras e concluiu-se ser ele eficiente para a produção do PRP em cães.

The objective of this paper was to analyze two protocols for the production of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in dogs. Peripheral blood of 20 adult dogs was collected into three tubes. The first was processed through protocol A - single centrifugation at 1200rpm for 10min - , the second was submitted to protocol B - a first centrifugation at 1200rpm for 10min and a second centrifugation at 1600rpm for 10min - and the third was used to perform platelet count in whole blood, which served as a parameter for values obtained in PRP. The protocol in which it was possible to achieve a higher platelet count was tested in other 20 dogs to evaluate its reproducibility. Protocol B resulted in a superior platelet count in 100 percent of the samples, concluding that the referred protocol is effective for PRP production in dogs.

Autoregressive modelling of species richness in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Spatial autocorrelation is the lack of independence between pairs of observations at given distances within a geographical space, a phenomenon commonly found in ecological data. Taking into account spatial autocorrelation when evaluating problems in geographical ecology, including gradients in species richness, is important to describe both the spatial structure in data and to correct the bias in Type I errors of standard statistical analyses. However, to effectively solve these problems it is necessary to establish the best way to incorporate the spatial structure to be used in the models. In this paper, we applied autoregressive models based on different types of connections and distances between 181 cells covering the Cerrado region of Central Brazil to study the spatial variation in mammal and bird species richness across the biome. Spatial structure was stronger for birds than for mammals, with R(2) values ranging from 0.77 to 0.94 for mammals and from 0.77 to 0.97 for birds, for models based on different definitions of spatial structures. According to the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the best autoregressive model was obtained by using the rook connection. In general, these results furnish guidelines for future modelling of species richness patterns in relation to environmental predictors and other variables expressing human occupation in the biome.

Autoregressive modelling of species richness in the Brazilian Cerrado / Modelagem por auto-regressão da riqueza de espécies no Cerrado Brasileiro

Spatial autocorrelation is the lack of independence between pairs of observations at given distances within a geographical space, a phenomenon commonly found in ecological data. Taking into account spatial autocorrelation when evaluating problems in geographical ecology, including gradients in species richness, is important to describe both the spatial structure in data and to correct the bias in Type I errors of standard statistical analyses. However, to effectively solve these problems it is necessary to establish the best way to incorporate the spatial structure to be used in the models. In this paper, we applied autoregressive models based on different types of connections and distances between 181 cells covering the Cerrado region of Central Brazil to study the spatial variation in mammal and bird species richness across the biome. Spatial structure was stronger for birds than for mammals, with R² values ranging from 0.77 to 0.94 for mammals and from 0.77 to 0.97 for birds, for models based on different definitions of spatial structures. According to the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the best autoregressive model was obtained by using the rook connection. In general, these results furnish guidelines for future modelling of species richness patterns in relation to environmental predictors and other variables expressing human occupation in the biome.

Autocorrelação espacial é definida como a falta de independência entre pares de observações a uma dada distância geográfica e é um fenômeno muito freqüente em dados ecológicos. É importante levar em consideração os efeitos de autocorrelação espacial em ecologia geográfica, tanto para realizar uma descrição mais detalhada dos dados quanto para corrigir estimativas enviesadas do erro Tipo I das análises estatísticas convencionais. Entretanto, para resolver efetivamente esses problemas, é preciso avaliar a melhor forma de incorporar estruturas espaciais nos modelos. Neste estudo, modelos autoregressivos, baseados em diferentes tipos de conexões e distâncias entre 181 células de uma rede cobrindo a região do Cerrado brasileiro, foram ajustados para avaliar a variação espacial de riqueza de mamíferos e aves dentro do bioma. A estrutura espacial foi ligeiramente mais forte para aves do que para mamíferos, com valores de R² variando entre 0,77 e 0,94 para mamíferos e 0,77 e 0,97 para aves, em modelos baseados em diferentes formas de conexão espacial. Segundo o Critério de Informação Akaike (AIC), o modelo autoregressivo melhor ajustado foi obtido através da conexão "em torre". Em geral, esses resultados fornecem diretrizes para futuras modelagens dos padrões de riqueza de espécies que estão associados a preditores ambientais e/ou a variáveis que expressam a ocupação humana no Cerrado.

Worldwide patterns in species richness of Falconiformes: analytical null models, geometric constraints, and the mid-domain effect.

Recently, the hypothesis that the geographic distribution of species could be influenced by the shape of the domain edges, the so-called Mid-Domain Effect (MDE), has been included as one of the five credible hypotheses for explaining spatial gradients in species richness, despite all the unsuccessful current attempts to prove empirically the validity of MDE. We used data on spatial worldwide distributions of Falconiformes to evaluate the validity of MDE assumptions, incorporated into two different sorts of null models at a global level and separately across five domains/landmasses. Species richness values predicted by the null models of the MDE and those values predicted by Net Primary Productivity, a surrogate variable expressing the effect of available energy, were compared in order to evaluate which hypothesis better predicts the observed values. Our tests showed that MDE continues to lack empirical support, regardless of its current acceptability, and so, does not deserve to be classified as one possible explanation of species richness gradients.

Worldwide patterns in species richness of falconiformes: analytical null models, geometric constraints, and the mid-domain effect

Recentemente, a hipótese de que a distribuição geográfica das espécies poderia ser influenciada pela forma das bordas continentais, conhecida como Efeito do Domínio Médio (EDM), foi incluída como uma das cinco hipóteses prováveis para explicar os gradientes espaciais de riqueza de espécies, apesar das últimas tentativas infrutíferas de prová-la empiricamente. Usamos os dados globais de distribuição espacial dos Falconiformes para avaliar os pressupostos do EDM, por meio de dois tipos de modelos nulos, em uma análise global e, também, separadamente por cinco domínios/continentes. Os valores de riqueza de espécies preditos pelos modelos nulos do EDM e pela produtividade primária líquida, uma variável substitutiva para expressar o efeito da energia disponível, foram comparados para avaliar qual hipótese prediz melhor os valores observados. Nossos testes mostraram que o EDM permanece sem suporte empírico, apesar da corrente notoriedade, não merecendo, portanto, ser classificado como uma das explicaçäes possíveis para os gradientes de riqueza de espécies.